Use of Topical Broad-spectrum Antibiotics as a Prophylaxis for Surgical Site Infection

Ankle fractures are one of the most common injuries in traumatology. It is the fourth most common fracture in general population after hip, wrist, and hand fractures. These injuries are the second cause of hospitalization due to fractures. Despite the improvement in the ankle fracture management, it has been estimated that the ankle fracture incidence has been increasing and one of the motives is an increase of ageing population. It has been estimated that ankle fractures have an incidence between 71 to 187 cases per 100,000 inhabitants a year.

Most of the ankle fractures are due to fallings or traffic accidents, it has been reported that up to 71% from ankle fracture causes are due to mechanisms of low energy, especially among the elderly and those with comorbidities these injuries are commonly caused by the inversion of the ankle, where the force and weight of the body falls in the fibula, which in young individuals usually results in only an ankle sprain, being the conservative management the most effective treatment. Nevertheless, in aging patients, these same mechanisms can provoke a fracture.

Ankle fractures represent a challenge for the orthopedic surgeon because in this very joint, despite being relatively stable, rests the entire bodyweight and a correct approach is required for the functionality to not being affected.

Ankle fractures are classified according to AO/OTA and Danis-Weber classifications. Single malleolus fractures are the most frequent (43.7 - 10%) and inside the Orthopedic Trauma Association (OTA) classification, type B are more common with a 65.8%, which tend to be displaced fractures. In patients with unstable or displaced fractures, or where a severe dislocation exists, surgical intervention is advised.

These injuries require a surgical treatment, which brings another issue: surgical site infections.