Bone and wound fluid concentrations of cephalosporins. Oral cefadroxil and parenteral cefuroxime compared in 52 patients with a trochanteric fracture.

We performed a prospective and randomized study in 52 patients to compare the concentrations in cancellous bone and wound fluid of antibiotics, given orally (cefadroxil) or intravenously (cefuroxime) as prophylaxis in trochanteric fracture surgery. Oral cefadroxil resulted in adequate antibiotic levels in 22 of 26 patients in wound fluid and cancellous bone, while parenteral cefuroxime resulted in sufficient antibiotic levels in all 26 patients. The concentrations in bone varied greatly between the subjects.