Osteomyelitis Treated with Antibiotic Impregnated Polymethyl Methacrylate

ABSTRACT

osteomyelitis is an infection and inflammation of the bone or bone marrow, causing ischemia in bone marrow due to lack of blood, nutrients, and oxygen supply to the bone marrow, eventually leading to necrosis of bone marrow. A current method for treatment of chronic osteomyelitis is administration of systemic antibiotics followed by removal of the infected bone and tissues. Because infected tissue of chronic osteomyelitis is surrounded by avascular necrotic bone, supply of blood and antibiotics to the infected area is diminished. For effective treatment, high plasma concentrations of antibiotics should be provided for a prolonged period. However, long term high serum level of antibiotics may result in undesirable adverse effects. For delivery of a sufficient concentration of antibiotic to the infected area while avoiding the adverse effect, implantation of a local antibiotic delivery system is suggested. One of the implantation systems that has been utilized is antibiotic impregnated polymethyl methacrylate.