title: In vitro elution characteristics of commercially and noncommercially prepared antibiotic PMMA beads.
abstract: The successful treatment of osteomyelitis with commercially prepared gentamicin-polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) (Septopal) beads and surgical debridement has led to the use of this technique in the United States. However, commercially prepared gentamicin-PMMA beads are not currently available to orthopedic surgeons in the United States. Therefore, these surgeons commonly manufacture their own antibiotic-containing cement beads in the operating room at the time of surgery. There is little data that compare the antibiotic elution characteristics of such preparations to commercially prepared gentamicin-PMMA beads. This study compares the measured amount of antibiotic elution of either gentamicin or tobramycin from laboratory manufactured Zimmer, Simplex, or Palacos beads to commercially prepared gentamicin-PMMA (Septopal) beads. During a 30-day study period, commercially prepared gentamicin-PMMA beads eluted more total antibiotic and maintain higher concentrations than did antibiotic acrylic composites manufactured in the authors' laboratory.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock.
authors.forename: C L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Nelson
authors.forename: F M
authors.initials: FM
authors.lastname: Griffin
authors.forename: B H
authors.initials: BH
authors.lastname: Harrison
authors.forename: R E
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: Cooper
mesh_terms: D001439:Bacteroides / Q000187:drug effects; D001843:Bone Cements / Q000032:analysis; D005839:Gentamicins / Q000032:analysis* / Q000494:pharmacology; D020366:Methylmethacrylate; D008768:Methylmethacrylates / Q000032:analysis*; D014031:Tobramycin / Q000032:analysis* / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D001843:Bone Cements; D005839:Gentamicins; D008768:Methylmethacrylates; D020366:Methylmethacrylate; D014031:Tobramycin