to identify the risk factors for surgical site infections (SSI) in patients with surgical management fractures with internal fixation or prosthetic material.a cross-sectional study was conducted in a tertiary institution in Armenia-Colombia in 2008 and 2009 in 223 patients.The superficial incisional infection frequency was 9,4% (n: 21), and deep incisional infection was 7,6% (n: 17); there were no organ/space SSI.; the highest rates of infection were observed in patella fractures (50%), acromio-clavicular joint (25%), and femur (23,7%). The infections were caused by: S. aureus, Enterobactergergoviae y Enterobacteraerogenes. There was an association with clean-contaminated wounds compared to clean wounds (OR 2,2), comminuted fractures (OR 2,1) multiple fractures (OR 2,9) and patella surgery (OR 3,1).the severity of the fracture and the degree of contamination were predisposing factors to infection.