Profilaxis antibiótica en pacientes sometidos a cirugía ortopédica y traumatológica

Abstract

Infections are the leading complication in patients undergoing surgery or surgical intervention. In the case of orthopedic and traumatological surgery, implanting any prosthesis or other osteosynthesis element significantly increases the risk of the surgical wound developing infectious conditions. Objective: To analyze the data describing the effectiveness of antibiotic prophylaxis in patients undergoing orthopedic and traumatological surgery. Methodology: This research is a narrative literature review conducted from a qualitative perspective and based on theoretically validated sources published in diverse scientific databases such as Lilacs, Scopus, Redalyc, PubMed, SciELO, and Web of Science. Results: Antibiotic prophylaxis in individuals undergoing orthopedic and traumatological surgery is effective as long as an appropriate drug is selected according to the characteristics of the microorganisms to which they are exposed. The drug should be administered preoperatively, intravenously, approximately 30 minutes before the incision, in a single dose, without exceeding 24 hours after the surgical procedure. Conclusions: Prophylaxis should be performed in orthopedic interventions involving prosthetic material, closed fractures approached with osteosynthesis, soft tissue or bone surgeries without osteosynthesis, and other open fractures of any component that is part of the musculoskeletal system. The primary antibiotics for prophylaxis are cefazolin, vancomycin, cloxacillin, cefuroxime, gentamicin, and cephalexin.