Elution of gentamicin and vancomycin from polymethylmethacrylate beads and hip spacers in vivo

Background and purpose Late infections after total hip arthroplasty are still a problem. Treatment procedures include resection arthroplasty with implantation of antibiotic-loaded beads or implantation of an antibiotic-impreganted spacer. However, little is known about antibiotic elution from bone cement beyond the first 2–3 postoperative days in humans

The effect of vancomycin addition to the compression strength of antibiotic-loaded bone cements

The purpose of this study was to record the effect of the addition of vancomycin on the compression strength of antibiotic-loaded bone cement and to compare the results with the international standards (ISO 5833–2). The formulations tested were: Palamed G and Copal. Vancomycin concentrations of 2.5%, 5% and 10% per powder weight were added. Samples of Palamed G with 5% vancomycin and non-standardised mixing procedures were also tested. The ISO requirements for the testing procedures were followed. None of the combinations tested fall short of the ISO standards for compression strength. Copal with 10% and Palamed G with 5% vancomycin and non-standardised mixing procedures, however, did not significantly exceed them. The addition of up to 5% vancomycin per powder weight to the Palamed G and Copal bone cements can be considered safe. Care should be given to the mixing procedure of the cement, as it significantly affects its compression strength