Local antibiotic therapy in osteomyelitis.

The local delivery of antibiotics in the treatment of osteomyelitis has been used safely and effectively for decades. Multiple methods of drug delivery have been developed for the purposes of both infection treatment and prophylaxis. The mainstay of treatment in this application over the past 20 years has been non-biodegradable polymethylmethacrylate, which has the advantages of excellent elution characteristics and structural support properties. Biodegradable materials such as calcium sulfate and bone graft substitutes have been used more recently for this purpose. Other biodegradable implants, including synthetic polymers, are not yet approved for use but have demonstrated potential in laboratory investigations. Antibiotic-impregnated metal, a recent development, holds great promise in the treatment and prophylaxis of osteomyelitis in the years to come.