efficacy of short-term vs. long-term antibiotic therapy in preventing deep infection after orthopedic procedures [a prospective observational study]

Antibiotic therapy prevents postoperative infections after orthopedic procedures, but the method and prescribed dose of this therapy are debated. Short-term prophylaxis and long-term prophylaxis are 2 accepted methods after orthopedic procedures. In this prospective observational study, we compared the results of short term and long-term prophylaxis after elective orthopedic procedures at 2 hospitals of Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences. We divided patients who underwent uneventful orthopedic operations into 2 groups, administered short- and long-term prophylactic antibiotic therapy, respectively, and observed the patients for signs and symptoms of superficial and deep infections. We compared and analyzed the results with SPSS, considering P values of less than 0.001 to indicate a significant difference. There was no significant difference regarding superficial and deep infections between short- and long-term prophylaxis groups; thus, both methods can be used for prophylaxis after elective orthopedic surgeries, effecting equal rates of success. Short-term prophylaxis can be used for clean orthopedic procedures with equivalent results as long-term therapy.

Results of Magnuson-stack operation in recurrent anterior shoulder instability

To evaluate the clinical results of Magnuson-stack operation in recurrent anterior shoulder instability Twenty-six patients with mean age of 27 years had undergone Magnuson-stack operation from July 2001 to September 2009 with mean follow up of 40 months. The clinical outcome was recorded according to Quick DASH score [Iranian version]. There were no redislocations. Clinical outcome was excellent in eighteen [70%], and good in 8 [30%]. The limitation in shoulder external rotation was observed in all of the patients without significant functional impairment. We conclude that although in Magnuson-Stack procedure we do not correct the anatomical defect of the recurrent anterior shoulder instability, but the ease of the operation and the relatively good clinical results are the reasons to use them in these patients, if arthroscopic repair facilities are not available