Use of prophylactic antibiotics in clean spinal surgery: a prospective randomized double blind study

ABSTRACT

A prospective randomized double blind study to assess benefits of the use of prophylactic antibiotic in 100 consecutive patients who underwent clean spinal surgery was carried out. Patients were randomly divided among two groups. One group received a single dose preoperative antibiotic only, while the other group received the antibiotic for another five days in addition. There was only one patient who had a stitch abscess which however responded to local treatment. This patient belonged to the group who received postoperative antibiotic for five days. There was no evidence of any other infection in patients of either group. It would seem that a single dose preoperative prophylaxis is all that is required in clean spinal surgery