Introduction. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect ofultrasound frequency and treatment duration on antibiotic-impregnatedpolymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) antibiotic elution rates andmechanical strength.Methods.xTwo batches of PMMA were prepared: one with five gramsof vancomycin powder and one without. Each batch was dividedinto two frequency groups: kHz and MHz. Each frequency groupwas divided into two duration groups: two minutes and ten minutes.Elution samples were measured daily using flow injection analysis.After one week of elution, ultrasound treatments were done daily untileach group’s average concentration fell below those of non-ultrasoundcontrol groups. After elution testing, compression testing determinedmechanical properties. Paired t-tests were used to compare dailyelution amounts to baseline values. Univariate ANOVAs were used totest for effects of both frequency and treatment duration on antibioticelution amounts and on mechanical properties.Results. All ultrasound treatments resulted in significant increasesin antibiotic elution. Frequency and duration had significant effects ofincreasing antibiotic elution (p < 0.001). The kHz group produced significantlygreater antibiotic elution than the MHz group (p < 0.001).The 10-minute duration produced significantly greater antibioticelution than the two-minute duration (both p < 0.001). Frequencyand duration did not have significant effects on yield stress (p = 0.841and p = 0.179, respectively). Frequency had a significant effect (p =0.024) on modulus, but duration did not (p = 0.136).Conclusions. Ultrasound frequency and treatment duration significantlyaffect antibiotic elution from PMMA which may be helpful fortreatment of periprosthetic joint infections during revision arthroplasty.Kans J Med 2019;12(2):45-49
