Reduction of postoperative or peri-operative elbow infection requires, first and foremost sound surgical preoperative cleansing. In otherwords, appropriate prepping and draping. Factors such as lengthy operative time while under tourniquet control may be associated with an increased risk of infection. Patient-related factors include a history of diabetes, excessive alcohol use, smoking history or other causes of immunocompromise.

Prevention also requires vigilant monitoring of postoperative wound status. early erythema may be treated successfully with oral antibiotics, but if there happens to be purulence or drainsge an operative irrigation and a course of intravenous antibiotics may be required.

The newest and most novel intervention that has been reported in pursuit of reducing the incidence of postoperative wound infection is the intraoperative application of antibiotic powder. This may have a role in all cases of elbow arthroplasty, for which an infection can be tremendously difficult to treat, and which may jeopardize the retention of the implant. It may also be adviseable for cases that involve significant intra-articular work---contracture release, for example, and maybe even when fractures are addressed with lengthy open reduction and internal fixation procedures.

The article attached below shows excellent results in terms of preventing postoperative elbow infection after elbow release in patients with post-traumatic elbow stiffness.

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