Antibiotics in open fractures of the distal phalanx?
A prospective trial was undertaken on 85 adult patients with open fractures of the distal phalanges of less than 6 hours duration, treated by conventional surgery. They either received no antibiotic therapy, or cephradine in short or long courses. The infection rate was 30% in the group without antibiotics and less than 3% in the treated groups. Three different antibiotics regimes were compared, with no difference in the infection rate: therefore the simplest and surest method, a single pre-operative dose and a single post-operative dose, is recommended.
D000328:Adult; D002511:Cephalosporins / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002515:Cephradine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D005383:Finger Injuries / Q000601:surgery*; D005592:Fracture Fixation; D005597:Fractures, Open / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011292:Premedication; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013530:Surgical Wound Infection / Q000517:prevention & control*
D002511:Cephalosporins; D002515:Cephradine