title: Flucloxacillin reduces stiffness following flexor tendon repair.
abstract: To determine the benefit of antibiotic prophylaxis on postoperative mobility in flexor tendon repairs, case notes of 72 flexor tendon injuries in twenty four patients were analyzed retrospectively (2001-2003). Only patients with non-contaminated injuries from sharp instruments in flexor zone 2 were included in the study; 57% were male, average age was 31 years, and 24% were smokers. The majority of injuries were caused by metal blades (45%). Most tendons were repaired with modified Kessler technique (69%). Twenty-five percent received intravenous flucloxacillin or co-amoxiclav perioperatively. Reduced total active motion (TAM, found in 25% of patients more than 7 weeks after surgical repair) significantly complicated patients without perioperative intravenous flucloxacillin cover. The use of intravenous perioperative flucloxacillin is a plausible adjunct in surgery to prevent postoperatively reduced mobility.
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Norfolk & Norwich University Hospital NHS Trust, Colney Lane, Norwich NR4 7UY Norfolk, UK. hagenschumacher@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Hagen H A
authors.initials: HH
authors.lastname: Schumacher
authors.forename: Nick K
authors.initials: NK
authors.lastname: James
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