Effect of local gentamicin application on healing and wound infection in patients with modified radical mastectomy: a prospective randomized study.

This study investigated the effects of Gentacoll implants on healing in patients (n = 44) undergoing modified radical mastectomy and axillary dissection. Group I, the Gentacoll group (n = 22), underwent surgery followed by insertion of 10 × 10 × 0.5 cm Gentacoll implants (280 mg collagen sponge plus 200 mg gentamicin sulphate) into the axillary area and under the flap area of the breast before wound closure. Group II, the control group (n = 22), underwent surgery without the application of Gentacoll. Neither group received oral or parenteral post-operative antibiotic therapy. Outcome measures included wound infection, seroma formation, total drainage volumes, drain removal time and duration of hospital stay. Post-operative infection rate, seroma formation, drainage volumes and duration of hospital stay were significantly reduced in the Gentacoll group compared with the control group. In conclusion, the application of Gentacoll significantly improved post-operative outcomes in patients undergoing modified radical mastectomy.