Antibiotic Prophylaxis in Surgical Treatment of the Hip Fractures

Abstract

Purpose: The purpose of the study is to compare the results of surgical treatment of hip fractures with antibiotic prophylaxis for one and five days to the results of the treatment without prophylaxis. Material and
Methods: Eighty-six patients surgically treated for hip fractures, between October 1994 and October 1997 were evaluated. Fifty four of patients had femoral neck fractures, while remaining 32 were treated for intertrochanteric femur fractures.
Results: Antibiotic prophylaxis was used in 64 patients, 22 patients were treated without prophylaxis. In prophylaxis group major wound infection rate was significantly lower than non-prophylaxis group {1.56% and 13.63%). There was no significant difference between the groups of the various type of prophylaxis .
Conclusion: Antibiotic prophylaxis is very helpful in the surgical treatment of hip fractures to prevent wound infection and prophylaxis for the first 24 hours is sufficient.