ANTIBIOTIC BEAD POUCHES IN OPEN FRACTURES: ELUTION OF ANTIBIOTICS FROM PMMA BEAD POUCHES IN OPEN FRACTURES

The increasing incidence of open fractures has led to higher infection rates leading to higher incidence of non-union and morbidity. Antibiotic impregnated PMMA (polymethyl methacrlyte) bone cement, (in the form of bead pouch) is used to deliver higher concentrations of local antibiotics to prevent bone infection in open fractures. This study demonstrates the effectiveness of combination antibiotic impregnated bone cement in infected open fractures. This study shows that local antibiotic elution through antibiotic impregnated bone cement is more potent and helps in controlling the infection. Combination antibiotics added to bone cement are more effective against a wide spectrum of bacteria than single antibiotic (gentamicin as provided by manufacturer).