Antibiotic containing bone cement beads in the treatment of deep muscle and skeletal infections.

Forty-eight cases of osteomyelitis or bacterial arthritis operated on with eradication of infections lesions were randomly treated either by insertion of suction-irrigation drainage or by implantation of gentamicin beads. The average follow-up time was 2 years. There was no difference in the recurrence rate between the two groups. The gentamicin treated patients were however more easily cared for as the suction-irrigation drainage required constant attention. Local temporary treatment with gentamicin beads should be used in cases of deep gram-negative muscle and skeletal infections where it would otherwise be necessary to give toxic antibiotics.