Bone with cement and antibiotic: antibiotic release in vitro.

It was the purpose of the study to evaluate morcellized bone with cement and antibiotic release mixed with vancomycin and methylmethacrylate cement (PMMA). The aim of the study is part of a wider one aimed at verifying the possibility of using this composite for the treatment of chronic septic pathologies of the bone. Five cylinders 1 cm in height by 1 cm in diameter, formed by morcellized bone with cement and vancomycin were immersed in plasma and 5 in physiological solution. Three cylinders equal in size but formed by cement and antibiotic alone were immersed in plasma and 3 in physiological solution. All of the cylinders remained in immersion for 28 days at a temperature of 37 degrees C. The immersion fluids were changed every day during the first week and on days 14, 21 and 28. The quantity of vancomycin released was dosed in each specimen. The greatest and most constant release of antibiotic took place in the cylinders of morcellized bone, cement and antibiotic immersed in plasma.