Antibiotic prophylaxis in operations on trochanteric femoral fractures
Tengve, B.; Kjellander, J.
Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery. American Volume 60(1): 97-99
1978
ISSN/ISBN: 0021-9355 PMID: 624766 Document Number: 133989
Short-term prophylaxis against infection using cephalothin and cephalexin was studied in 140 patients operated on for trochanteric fractures of the femur. The group given the drug during preparation for anesthesia, intraoperatively, and for two days postoperatively had an infection rate of 1.8 per cent (one patient), whereas the group without prophylaxis had a rate of 16.9 per cent (twelve patients). The two groups were similar with regard to factors that may have influenced the infection rate, for example, age, time required for surgery, and blood loss. Staphylococcus aureus was the most common infecting organism, but several patients had mixed infections with intestinal bacteria.