Pre-operative Alcohol Skin Solutions in Fractured Extremities

The prevention of infection is an important goal influencing peri-operative care of extremity fracture patients. Standard practice in the operative management of extremity fractures includes sterile technique and pre-operative skin preparation with an antiseptic solution. The available solutions kill bacteria and decrease the quantity of native skin flora, thereby decreasing surgical site infection (SSI). While there is extensive guidance on specific procedures for prophylactic antibiotic use and standards for sterile technique, the evidence regarding the choice of antiseptic skin preparation solution is very limited for extremity fracture surgery.