Developments in Antibiotic-Eluting Scaffolds for the Treatment of Osteomyelitis

Abstract

Osteomyelitis is a devasting disease caused by the infection of bone tissue and is associated with significant morbidity and mortality. It is treated with antibiotic therapy and surgical debridement. A high dose of systemic antibiotics is often required due to poor bone penetration and this is often associated with unacceptable side-effects. To overcome this; local; implantable antibiotic carriers such as polymethyl methacrylate have been developed. However; this is a non-biodegradable material that requires a second surgery to be removed. As a result; attention has shifted to new antibiotic-eluting scaffolds which can be created with a range of unique properties. The purpose of this review is to assess the level of evidence that exists for these novel local treatments. Although this field is still developing; these strategies seem promising and provide hope for the future treatment of chronic osteomyelitis.

Keywords

• antibiotic
• scaffold
• bone substitute
• bone graft
• osteomyelitis
• orthopaedics