title: Povidone-iodine soaks for hand abscesses: a prospective randomized trial.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the effect of povidone-iodine soaks on outcomes of hand infections after operative drainage.
  
  
  METHODS
  We performed a single-center, prospective, randomized trial to evaluate 100 consecutive hand infections. Forty-nine patients received povidone-iodine soaks 3 times daily, and 51 patients received only daily dressing changes. Outcome measures were the number of operations, readmissions, reoperations for wound complications, and days spent in the hospital.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Patients treated with povidone soaks averaged 1.6 operations, and patients treated with daily dressing changes averaged 1.4 operations, a statistically insignificant difference. The mean number of operations was also not different between groups for the dorsal hand or dorsal finger abscess subcategories. No significant differences were found in length of stay, number of readmissions, or number of reoperations for wound complications.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Povidone-iodine soaks are not helpful in the postoperative management of hand infections
  
  
  METHODS
  Therapeutic II.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery and Sports Medicine, and the Biostatistics Consulting Center, Temple University School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA; Department of Orthopaedics, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA. Electronic address: rtosti@temple.edu.
authors.forename: Rick
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Tosti
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery and Sports Medicine, and the Biostatistics Consulting Center, Temple University School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA; Department of Orthopaedics, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA.
authors.forename: Justin
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Iorio
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery and Sports Medicine, and the Biostatistics Consulting Center, Temple University School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA; Department of Orthopaedics, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA.
authors.forename: John R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Fowler
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery and Sports Medicine, and the Biostatistics Consulting Center, Temple University School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA; Department of Orthopaedics, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA.
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Gaughan
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery and Sports Medicine, and the Biostatistics Consulting Center, Temple University School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA; Department of Orthopaedics, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA.
authors.forename: Joseph J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Thoder
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery and Sports Medicine, and the Biostatistics Consulting Center, Temple University School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA; Department of Orthopaedics, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA.
authors.forename: Alyssa A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Schaffer
mesh_terms: D000038:Abscess / Q000188:drug therapy*; D000328:Adult; D000891:Anti-Infective Agents, Local / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D006225:Hand; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011206:Povidone-Iodine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013530:Surgical Wound Infection / Q000188:drug therapy*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000891:Anti-Infective Agents, Local; D011206:Povidone-Iodine
keywords: Betadine; hand infection; hand soaks; iodine; povidone