AAOS Clinical Practice Guideline Summary: Prevention of Surgical Site Infection After Major Extremity Trauma

Prevention of Surgical Site Infections After Major Extremity Trauma Evidence-Based Clinical Practice Guideline is based on a systematic review of current scientific and clinical research. This clinical practice guideline (CPG) is designed to assist qualified physicians and clinicians when making treatment decisions for adults (18 years or older) who have sustained major extremity trauma. The CPG workgroup defined major extremity trauma as an open fracture, a major/high-energy closed fracture, a degloving injury, Morel-Lavallée lesions, a low-energy or high-energy gunshot injury, a crush injury, a blast injury, or any other moderate-energy to high-energy injury. This guideline contains 14 recommendations that evaluate preoperative, perioperative, and postoperative interventions to limit the risk of surgical site infections after major extremity trauma while also identifying and evaluating potential patient-specific risk factors to consider. Another six options formulated with either low-quality evidence, no evidence, or conflicting evidence are also presented and discussed in the CPG. These include the use of incisional negative-pressure wound therapy for high-risk surgical incisions, the implementation of an orthoplastic team, the possible role of hyperbaric O2, the value of various preoperative skin preparations, and select modifiable and administrative risk factors.