# The Importance of Antibiotics in Facial Fracture Treatment—A Systematic Meta-Review

## TL;DR

This study reviews the use of antibiotics in facial fracture treatment and finds no strong evidence for prolonged use after surgery.

## Contribution

The study provides a focused meta-review on antibiotic regimens for facial trauma, narrowing recommendations for clinical practice.

## Key findings

- Prolonged antibiotic treatment after surgery for midfacial fractures is not supported by evidence.
- Antibiotics for conservatively managed fractures alone lack sufficient support.
- Three low-bias systematic reviews formed the basis of the final evidence evaluation.

## Abstract

This meta-review evaluated the possibility of more specified recommendations in antibiotic treatment through a narrowed focus on facial trauma. The aim was to analyze the effect of different regimens of antibiotic in treatment of skeletal trauma to the face. The knowledge mapping was based on existing systematic reviews (SRs) on trials specified in a PICO: Participants (P): Adults and children, diagnosed with fractures to the facial skeleton. Interventions (I): Antibiotic intervention. Comparator (C): Placebo, no antibiotics. Outcomes (O): Postoperative infection, pain, re-operation, other complications, healing deficiencies, (Oral) Health related Quality of Life, removal of osteosynthesis, adverse reactions. The literature search in PubMed, The Cochrane Library, and Web of Science according to PRISMA resulted in 1487 records. A COVIDENCE selection process resulted in 29 articles retrieved and read in full text revealing 10 articles eligible for evaluated according to ROBIS. Three SRs were considered to have low risk of bias and constituted the final evidence evaluation. The meta-review of these SRs did not provide sufficient support for prolonged antibiotic treatment after surgical intervention of midfacial fractures in comparison with antibiotics only the first day postoperatively. No support for antibiotic treatment for conservatively managed fractures alone was found. This review is limited by a relatively low number of included SRs. However, tendencies in outcomes suggests a restricted duration of antibiotics in treatment of facial fractures.