Prophylactic intrawound application of vancomycin in total knee arthroplasty

Infection after knee arthroplasty is a serious concern of arthroplasty surgeons and various methods are described to reduce the same. Local application of antibiotic can reduce the chance of infection without systemic side effects. A retrospective review of 115 patients operated over a period of two years (February 2014–January 2016) was performed. In the vancomycin or treatment group the vancomycin was applied in subfascial layer just before wound closure. Five patients experienced infection in treatment or vancomycin group while eight patients had infection in control group. The difference was not statistically significant (p = 0.771). Deep seated infection was noted in four patients in the vancomycin group and among six patients in the control group. Local wound application of vancomycin does not lead lower infection rate in total knee arthroplasty. Level III, Retrospective Cohort.