Comparison of erythrocyte sedimentation rate and C-reactive protein in patients with distal radius fractures according to the prophylactic antibiotic period: 1 day versus 1 week

Abstract

Purpose: Surgical site infection is a serious postoperative complication. Most surgical site infections after distal radius fracture (DRF) surgery are superficial and early-onset, and they can be prevented by prophylactic antibiotics. The erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) and C-reactive protein (CRP) are representative inflammatory markers. The aim of this study was to compare serial serum ESR and CRP levels in DRF patients according to the period of prophylactic antibiotic use.Methods: A retrospective study was conducted on 46 patients with DRF treated with internal fixation. Twenty-two patients treated between September 2019 and March 2020 were in group A and 24 patients who underwent treatment from September 2020 to March 2021 comprised group B. The patients in group A were administered the first-generation cephalosporin for 1 week, as was customary. Group B received 1-day antibiotic prophylaxis. Surgery was performed by a single surgeon using volar locking plates. The surgical wounds and serum ESR and CRP levels were examined before surgery, 2 days after surgery, and 1 week after surgery and compared between the two groups.Results: The CRP level, but not the ESR, changed significantly over time within each group. However, no statistically significant difference was observed between the two groups, and there were no surgical site infections.Conclusion: The use of prophylactic antibiotics for 1 week had no significant effect on reducing ESR and CRP compared to 1-day prophylactic antibiotics in patients with DRFs.