Comparison of Standard Antibiotic Prophylaxis Versus Intrawound Antibiotic Powder in Preventing Surgical Site Infections Following Orthopedic Trauma Surgeries: A Prospective Study

Surgical site infections (SSIs) pose a significant challenge in orthopedic trauma surgeries, impacting patient outcomes through prolonged hospital stays, increased morbidity, and heightened healthcare costs.Effective prevention strategies are paramount to improve surgical success rates and patient recovery.This prospective study, conducted over six months in the Department of Orthopaedics at Sir Sayajirao General Hospital (SSGH), aimed to evaluate the comparative efficacy of standard intravenous (IV) antibiotic prophylaxis versus the addition of intrawound antibiotic powder in reducing SSIs.Two groups were studied: Group A received standard IV antibiotic prophylaxis, while Group B received an adjunctive application of intrawound antibiotic powder.Primary outcomes focused on SSI incidence within 30 days, while secondary measures included wound healing times, secondary interventions, and adverse events.The results demonstrated a statistically significant reduction in SSIs in Group B, alongside faster wound healing and fewer secondary interventions.These findings suggest that incorporating intrawound antibiotic powder may offer an enhanced approach to SSI prevention in orthopedic trauma surgeries, warranting further investigation and potential integration into clinical protocols.