International journal of clinical practice
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Int. J. Clin. Pract. · Apr 2002
Management of chronic osteomyelitis in a developing country using ceftriaxone-PMMA beads: an initial study.
Chronic osteomyelitis is a debilitating disease that is fairly common in developing countries. Various operative techniques have been adopted in the management of this disease but there have been few reports of their use in Africa. In this report, we present our experience of the use of a modified two-staged Belfast operation in patients with chronic osteomyelitis in Ibadan, Nigeria. ⋯ There was recurrence of infection in three patients (8.6%) who had a suction drain inserted at the first stage and in six patients (17.1%) who had no suction drain at the first stage. The locally produced ceftriaxone-PMMA beads were found to be as efficient as the commercially available gentamicin beads in eluting antibiotics locally, thereby eliminating the residual infection in the bone cavities after the first stage. Another important outcome was a fourfold saving in cost in choosing to use ceftriaxone-PMMA beads rather than gentamicin beads.