Frequency of wound infection in clean orthopaedic surgery using single dose antibiotic prophylaxis

ABSTRACT

Wound infection is the disastrous complication after clean orthopaedic surgery. Role of prophylactic single dose parenteral antibiotic is still controversial in prevention of this morbidity. Frequency of wound infection in patients underwent open reduction and internal fixation of long bone clean orthopaedic fracture using single dose antibiotic prophylaxis. case series study. This study was conducted at the Department of Orthopaedic Unit 1, Civil Hospital, Karachi from 11[th] August 2010 to 10[th] February 2011. A total of 231 patients having long bone clean orthopaedic fracture were selected. Patients diagnosed as clean orthopaedic cases and determination of fractures on X-ray with intact skin over fractures were included in the study. Patients with open fracture having co-morbidities already on antibiotics were excluded from the study. Open reduction and internal fixation was carried out using single prophylactic dose of injection cepharadine [2 grams]. Wound infection was assess on 5[th] postoperative day according to Southampton wound grading system. There were 191 males and 40 females with mean age 36.70 years. Out of 231 patients, 213 had no infection while 18 cases had wound infection on 5[th] postoperative day. The use of single dose prophylactic antibiotic prophylaxis is effective in preventing wound infection after management of clean long bones orthop