Postoperative antibiotic prophylaxis in mandibular fractures: A preliminary randomized, double-blind, and placebo-controlled clinical study

Purpose: This study evaluated the difference between the effect of a 5-day postoperative course of oral antibiotics and a placebo on the incidence of postoperative infection in uncomplicated fractures of the mandible. Patients and Methods: A prospective, randomized, double-blind clinical study using a placebo control was carried out. Thirty patients were randomly assigned into 2 groups: group 1 (14 patients) and group 2 (16 patients). Each group received penicillin G, 2 million U intravenously, every 4 hours through the preoperative period, intraoperative period, and for 12 hours postoperatively. Group I then received penicillin VK, 500 mg every 6 hours for 5 days. Group 2 received oral placebo using the same schedule for the same duration as group 1. The patients were than evaluated for evidence of infection 1, 2, 4, and 6 weeks postoperatively. Results: Two of 14 patients in group 1 (14-3%) and 2 of 16 patients in group 2 (12.5%) developed infections. No statistically significant difference in the incidence of infection was noted between the groups. Conclusions: In this preliminary study, the use of postoperative oral antibiotics in uncomplicated fractures of the mandible had no benefit in reducing the incidence of infections. (C) 2001 American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons.