Objectives: 

To analyze the efficacy of intraoperative topical antibiotics in reducing the incidence of postoperative surgical site infections in pelvic and lower-limb trauma orthopaedic surgery.

Data Sources: 

A search of Ovid MEDLINE, PubMed, and Embase was conducted for English language studies published from 1946 through September 3, 2021, using relevant keywords.

Study Selection: 

Included studies were randomized controlled trials, cohort studies, or case–control studies reporting on the rate of surgical site infections in adult patients (age 16 and older) who underwent surgical fixation of lower-limb or pelvic traumatic fractures, including both open and closed fractures, with topical intraoperative antibiotics applied to the surgical site before wound closure.

Data Extraction: 

Studies were evaluated using the Joanna Briggs Institute Critical Appraisal Checklist for analytical cross-sectional studies. The risk of bias was assessed using the ROBINS-I and Cochrane risk-of-bias tools.

Data Synthesis: 

A meta-analysis was conducted using the inverse variance method and random-effects model to assess effect significance and study heterogeneity.

Conclusions: 

Seven studies were included in the systematic review. Results of the meta-analysis suggested a potential 23% reduction in the odds of developing a deep surgical site infection in patients treated with intraoperative antibiotic powder compared with those managed with intravenous antibiotics alone (odds ratio 0.77, 95% confidence interval 0.52–1.13), although the results did not reach statistical significance. Further powered studies including randomized controlled trials would be of great value to validate the results suggested in this study and inform best practice intraoperative antibiotic prophylaxis in pelvic and lower-limb trauma surgery.

Level of Evidence: 

Therapeutic Level III. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.