Evaluation of Efficacy of Post-Operative Antibiotic Prophylaxis in Mandibular Fractures

Study Objectives: To evaluate the efficacy of post-operative antibiotic prophylaxis in mandibular fractures. Study Design and Settings: It was a randomized controlled trial carried at of Department of Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery Akhtar Saeed Medical & Dental College Lahore from January 2021 to June 2021. Patients and Methods: After accepting to be enrolled in the study 50 patients with mandible fractures were randomly assigned into two groups Group A and Group B respectively. From admission until 24 hours post-operatively, all patients were given prophylactic antibiotic. The patients were than evaluated for evidence of infection at 6 weeks post-operatively.. Results of the Study: The age incidence varied from 18-60 years. The maximum number of patients belongs to age group 2030 years. In a total of 50 patients, 45 male and 5 female patients were enrolled for the study. 4 of 25 patients in group A (16%) and 3 of 25 patients in group B (12%) reported with infection during follow-up. No statistically significant difference in the incidence of infection was noted between the groups Conclusion: In this study it was concluded that 1 day post-operative antibiotic is adequate to prevent post-operative infection in uncomplicated mandible fractures. The extended use of post-operative prophylactic antibiotic does not affect the incidence of infection in uncomplicated mandible fracture.