Effect of Prophylactic Antibiotics on K-Wire-Associated Infection: A Retrospective Cohort Study

Area of Science:

• Orthopaedic Surgery
• Infectious Disease Prevention

Background:

• Percutaneous Kirschner wire (K-wire) fixation is common for fractures.
• K-wire pin sites are susceptible to infection.
• Evidence for prophylactic antibiotic use is inconclusive.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine if prophylactic antibiotics decrease K-wire pin site infection rates.
• To compare infection incidence between patients receiving and not receiving prophylaxis.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective cohort study at two centres (2007-2021).
• Reviewed 264 patients with K-wire fixation for humerus or radius fractures.
• Collected data on antibiotic administration and pin-site infections.

Main Results:

• Overall K-wire infection rate was 3.4%.
• Infection incidence was 3.9% with prophylaxis vs. 2.4% without.
• The difference was not statistically significant (p=0.73).

Conclusions:

• No reduction in pin site infection rates observed with prophylactic antibiotics.
• Study was underpowered due to low infection rates and small sample size.
• Further randomized controlled trials are recommended to inform clinical practice.