Clinical application of local antibiotic carriers in infected bone defects

Early management of open extremity fractures and treatment of chronic osteomyelitis, in general, require thorough debridement. Radical debridement of the contaminated or infected bone tissues usually results in bone defects. If such bone defects are not dealt with properly, they can easily deteriorate into infected ones. Treatment of infected bone defects can be extremely complicated. Application of local antibiotic delivery system can simultaneously fill the bone defects, prevent and treat the infection by delivering a high concentration of antibiotics to the lesion. The clinical antibiotic carriers can be divided roughly into 2 types: non-biodegradable and biodegradable. The biodegradable type involves bioceramic, natural polymer, synthetic polymer and composite materials. This literature review summaries the characteristics and clinical applications of current local antibiotic carriers. Key words: Osteomyelitis; Fractures, open; Calcium sulfate; Bone defects; Polymethyl methacrylate