AUDIOMETRIC THRESHOLDS IN OSTEOMYELITIS PATIENTS TREATED WITH GENTAMICIN-IMPREGNATED METHYLMETHACRYLATE BEADS (SEPTOPAL)

Use of gentamicin-impregnated methylmethacrylate beads is a relatively new and effective method of treating osteomyelitis. Although previous studies have concluded that such therapy is associated with low syste mic toxicity, no data are available relating the use of this treatment to ototoxicity and hearing loss. Audiometric thresholds from 28 cases of osteomyelitis treated by surgical debridement and long-term system ic antibiotics alone (14 subjects) or gentamicin-impregnated methylmet hacrylate beads either alone or combined with systemic antibiotics (14 subjects) were analyzed. Results showed one permanent threshold shift in the gentamicin-impregnated methylmethacrylate beads group (8%) ver sus four permanent threshold shifts in the systemic antibiotics alone group (29%). Osteomyelitis patients treated with gentamicin-impregnate d methylmethacrylate beads are at no more risk and are probably at les s risk of experiencing ototoxicity than patients treated with conventi onal long-term systemic antibiotics.