Streptomycin-loaded bone cement in the treatment of tuberculous osteomyelitis: an adjunct to conventional therapy.

Streptomycin-loaded bone-cement (7 g of streptomycin in 40 g of bone cement) beads were used in the treatment of tuberculous bursitis and osteomyelitis of the greater trochanter in a 76-year-old woman. Wound drainage, serum and urine concentrations of streptomycin were measured. For the first 96 hours, the streptomycin levels in the wound drainage ranged from 2932 mg/L to 414.4 mg/L, and in the serum, streptomycin levels ranged from 1.7 mg/L to 13.7 mg/L. The patient recovered without complication and at follow-up 2 years later was free of infection and walking without pain. The authors conclude that the use of streptomycin-loaded bone cement can safely and effectively eradicate mycobacterial tuberculosis osteomyelitis.