Minimum safe CD4 count for elective foot and ankle surgery?

Minimum safe CD4 count for elective foot and ankle surgery?

• A. 200 cells per microliter
• B. 100 cells per microliter
• C. 300 cells per microliter
• D. 400 cells per microliter

Answer: (A)

The key idea is immune status as a predictor of surgical risk in HIV. The CD4 count reflects how well the immune system can fight infection and heal after surgery. When CD4 counts fall below about 200 cells per microliter, the risk of opportunistic infections and poor wound healing rises significantly, making elective procedures riskier. Therefore, the commonly cited minimum safe threshold for elective foot and ankle surgery is 200 cells/μL. If the count is at or above this level, the procedure can usually be planned with standard perioperative precautions and HIV care ongoing. Counts of 300 or 400 are higher than necessary for the minimum safety margin, and a count of 100 is clearly too low for a safe elective procedure.