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Intraoperative gentamicin may reduce infection after shoulder arthroplasty
Intraoperative injection of gentamicin may be a cost-effective way to reduce deep infection stemming from shoulder arthroplasty, according to recently published data.
Researchers retrospectively evaluated 507 shoulder arthroplasties performed by a single surgeon between 2005 and 2011. Although all patients received systemic prophylactic antibiotics, those who underwent surgery after June 2007 also received 160 mg of gentamicin in the glenohumeral joint to prevent surgery-related deep infection. Patients who received gentamicin (group B) and those who did not receive gentamicin (group A) were compared and evaluated for preexisting medical conditions, type of surgery and presence of infection. Minimum follow-up was 1 year.
Among the 164 patients in group A, 131 had primary arthroplasties and 33 were revision total shoulder arthroplasty, whereas among the 343 patients in group B, 284 had primary arthroplasties and 59 had revision total arthroplasties.
The number of patients observed with infection related to surgery was significantly lower in group B than group A, according to the researchers (0.29% vs. 3%, respectively).
The groups had no differences in gender, mean age or body mass index, and comorbidity rates were similar in each group.
Gentamicin had a cost of $60 per 160 mg, and no complications related to injection of the drug were reported, according to the researchers.
Disclosure: The authors have no relevant financial disclosures.