Cefuroxime in CMW bone cement. A clinical study.

This paper presents the results of adding the antibiotic cefuroxime to CMW bone cement in a group of patients undergoing total hip or knee replacement, in which the levels of cefuroxime were assayed in the blood, wound drainage fluid, urine and surplus bone cement. It was found that very small amounts of cefuroxime, less than 5%, were recovered in the urine, serum and drainage fluid in the first week following operation, and since it is known that cefuroxime is not metabolised or excreted elsewhere in the body, it must follow that approximately 95% remains in the bone cement as a potential source of prophylaxis against infection.