The intra-operative application of povidone-iodine in neurosurgery

Over a period of 6 months 250 patients were operated on for lumbar disc prolapse, 125 patients each receiving prophylactic antibiotic therapy or only local, intra-operative administration of povidone-iodine. The analysis of variance showed a significant difference between the patient group treated with the antiseptic and the prophylactic antibiotic group. More abscesses and signs of infection occurred in the antibiotic treated group. Animal studies are also described.