title: Use of lavage fluids in arthroplasty to prevent postoperative infections.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Lavage techniques are used every day all over the world to clean wounds and surgical approaches. The solutions used vary depending on the application range; there are, for instance, normal saline, antibiotic or antiseptic solutions. This review describes the lavage solutions actually used during arthroplasty and their outcome related to postoperative infections.
  
  
  METHODS
  This is a retrospective review of published articles and books. The information was obtained from online browsers for scientific articles.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The lavage fluids used in arthroscopy and those used in experimental studies were normal saline, bacitracin, castile soap, benzalkonium chloride, povidone iodine, Ringer's solution, neomycin sulphate, ethanol, chlorhexidine gluconate, cephalothin sodium, and carbenicillin indanyl sodium.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  As few clinical studies were carried out with lavage solutions, most of the results are based on experimental studies. A "golden standard" is still missing.
authors.affiliation: Experimental Orthopaedics, Innsbruck Medical University, Innsbruck, Austria.
authors.forename: E-M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Kruckenhauser
authors.affiliation: Experimental Orthopaedics, Innsbruck Medical University, Innsbruck, Austria.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nogler
authors.affiliation: Experimental Orthopaedics, Innsbruck Medical University, Innsbruck, Austria.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Coraça-Huber
mesh_terms: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000891:Anti-Infective Agents, Local / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001178:Arthroplasty / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D013530:Surgical Wound Infection / Q000517:prevention & control*; D007507:Therapeutic Irrigation / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D000891:Anti-Infective Agents, Local