Prophylactic antibiotic usage in podiatric implant surgery of the first metatarsophalangeal joint.

All first metatarsophalangeal joint implants used at Sheridan Park Hospital from 1979 through 1984 were evaluated for postoperative infection and subsequent implant removal. Thirteen (1.3%) of 929 implants used were removed due to infection. Antibiotic prophylaxis was not determined to be necessary to avoid this complication. However, in all cases in which prophylaxis was used, no infection occurred.