[Tricalcium phosphate and gentamycin. In vitro and in vivo antibiotic diffusion, rehabilitation in bone site in sheep].

Several different materials have been proposed as vectors to carry antibiotics to bone tissue. No material currently available satisfies all the prerequisites for the treatment of chronic osteitis with a simple procedure. The aim of this study was to assess the antibiotic releasing capacity of gentamycin-loaded beta tricalcium phosphate in vitro and in vivo in a sheep model. Experimental results showed that beta tricalcium phosphate can release a large percentage of its antibiotic load and that the kinetics of antibiotic release can be modulated by changing the volume and porosity of the blocks. This material is also well tolerated by the host and has the advantage of being porous and resorbable. Use of these properties would appear to be a major progress in the treatment of chronic bone infections.