Gentamycin-PMMA bead chains in the treatment of posttraumatic osseous and tissue infections.

Forty cases of posttraumatic osseous or soft tissue infections (34 : 6) which were treated by implantation of Gentamycin-PMMA bead chains are presented. Three patients died early during treatment. From the remaining 37 patients, 34 stayed free of relapse after the initial course of treatment, two suffered intercurrent relapse, but a second intervention proved to be successful. One patient still is not completely free of infection and the bead chains are still in place. The overall success rate seems to be in favor of this new form of treatment. The rationale and the advantages are discussed.