[Translated article] One foot in myth, the other in science: beliefs and realities on the impact of climate on foot and ankle surgery.

Authors

Cristóbal Suárez Rueda, María Herrera Abián, Ana González Jiménez, Irene Portellano Pascual, José Luis Sopesén Veramendi

Published in

Revista espanola de cirugia ortopedica y traumatologia. Oct 20, 2026. Epub Oct 20, 2026.

Abstract

Introduction Beliefs about the influence of climate on wound healing in foot and ankle surgery are common among patients and healthcare professionals. This study assesses the prevalence of this belief and contrasts these perceptions with clinical data. Material and methods Observational retrospective cohort study, complemented by a cross-sectional perception survey. The survey collected 527 responses from physicians, nursing staff, and the general population. The surgical cohort included 488 patients operated on in Madrid between 2019 and 2025. The number of nursing wound care visits within three months post-surgery was used as an indirect variable for complications. Chi-square (χ²), ANOVA, and linear regressions were applied to the main variable, which was log-transformed. Results 70.4% of respondents believed summer increases complications, 21.3% pointed to winter, and 68.3% to humidity/rain. Nursing staff showed a higher degree of belief in these associations. No significant differences were found in the number of wound care visits between seasons (p = 0.071). Although regressions showed a statistically significant association with temperature (p = 0.014 and p = 0.036), the low determination coefficient (R² = 0.0124) indicated clinical irrelevance. No association was found with precipitation or day of the year. Discussion This study demonstrates a marked contrast between social and professional perception and clinical evidence. Despite the widespread belief that climate influences wound healing, the data do not support this in foot and ankle surgery.

PMID:
42901443
Bibliographic data and abstract were imported from PubMed on 21 Oct 2026.

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