PMID: 9422950Jan 10, 1998Paper

Are antibiotics necessary in the surgical management of upper limb lacerations?

British Journal of Plastic Surgery
O C Cassell, L Ion

Abstract

Previous research has shown that antibiotic usage in patients with superficial sharp lacerations has no influence over infection rate. This study is a prospective controlled trial, using systematic allocation, of 250 patients of which 113 received co-amoxiclav (Augmentin) and 137 did not. Special emphasis was placed on wound debridement and irrigation. All sharp soft tissue lacerations including those with nerve, tendon and muscle damage were entered into the trial. The results show a low overall infection rate of 4%. The infection rate in the group treated with antibiotics was 5% and 3.2% in the group who received no antibiotics. Lacerations operated on up to 48 h from the injury were included and there was no correlation between the length of time waited and the infection rate. We conclude that antibiotics are an unnecessary adjunct in the treatment of sharp lacerations of the hand and upper limb, provided meticulous surgical debridement is performed.

References

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Citations

Jul 20, 2010·Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery·Nihal AydınOmer Sensöz
Mar 2, 2016·The British Journal of Surgery·G R F MurphyS Hettiaratchy
Aug 3, 2006·The Veterinary Clinics of North America. Equine Practice·Louise L Southwood
Apr 11, 2008·Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery·Max LehfeldtRandy Sherman
May 28, 2010·Academic Medicine : Journal of the Association of American Medical Colleges·Robert Lehr Goodman
Aug 27, 2010·Dental Traumatology : Official Publication of International Association for Dental Traumatology·E CaglarB Kargul
May 13, 2005·Oral Diseases·E CaglarI Tanboga
Mar 21, 2012·The Open Orthopaedics Journal·M GriffinW Khan
Jun 6, 2002·International Journal of Palliative Nursing·Brian Nyatanga
May 14, 1999·Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery·C N BaranM G Ulusoy
Oct 13, 2021·Hand Surgery and Rehabilitation·J-C HéryM Malherbe

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