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Antibiotic prophylaxis rarely prescribed after K-wire fixation
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Results from a recent study revealed that patients treated with percutaneous Kirschner wires were rarely prescribed postoperative antibiotic prophylaxis by attending physicians at orthopedic foot and ankle fellowships.
Researchers mailed questionnaires that included three clinical vignettes consisting of a common foot and ankle surgery using Kirschner wire (K-wire) fixation in patients with either no comorbidities, controlled diabetes or poorly controlled diabetes with peripheral neuropathy to 112 attending physicians at foot and ankle fellowships. Researchers received surveys from 57% of attending physicians.
Twenty-five percent of the physicians indicated they would prescribe a nondiabetic patient postoperative antibiotics for an average of 9.4 days with an average duration of K-wire fixation of 35.1 days, per study results. Researchers reported that 28% of surgeons would prescribe a neuropathic diabetic patient postoperative antibiotics for an average of 13.8 days with an average K-wire fixation duration of 35.4 days. Finally, 32% of physicians said they would prescribe postoperative antibiotics for an average of 14.5 days with an average duration of K-wire fixation of 36.7 days in diabetic patients with neuropathy, according to the results. – by Casey Tingle
Disclosure: The researchers report no relevant financial disclosures.
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