title: The radiology of antibiotic-impregnated cement.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this article is to illustrate the radiologic appearances of the various forms of antibiotic-impregnated cement.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although the radiologic appearances of antibiotic-impregnated polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) and regular PMMA are identical, peculiarities in the position and morphology of antibiotic-impregnated cement, as illustrated in this review, usually enable the radiologist to differentiate between the two. Its presence indicates one of two things: Either infection was present at the time the PMMA cement was inserted, or there was a high potential for the development of local sepsis, such as in cases of an open fracture. On the basis of this finding, the radiologist should carefully search for evidence of osteomyelitis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Vancouver General Hospital and University of British Columbia, Jimmy Pattison Pavilion South, 899 W 12th Ave., Vancouver, BC V5Z 1M9, Canada. ejheffernan@eircom.net
authors.forename: Eric J
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Heffernan
authors.forename: Fahad O
authors.initials: FO
authors.lastname: Alkubaidan
authors.forename: Lawrence M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: White
authors.forename: Bassam A
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Masri
authors.forename: Peter L
authors.initials: PL
authors.lastname: Munk
mesh_terms: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D019643:Arthroplasty, Replacement; D018441:Biofilms; D001843:Bone Cements / Q000737:chemistry*; D016503:Drug Delivery Systems; D017102:Fracture Healing / Q000187:drug effects; D050723:Fractures, Bone / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D010019:Osteomyelitis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000188:drug therapy*; D019904:Polymethyl Methacrylate / Q000737:chemistry*; D016459:Prosthesis-Related Infections / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000188:drug therapy*; D015641:Radiography, Interventional; D012086:Reoperation
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D001843:Bone Cements; D019904:Polymethyl Methacrylate