ANTIBIOTIC-IMPREGNATED XENOGRAFTS IN THE TREATMENT OF CHRONIC OSTEOMYELITIC CAVITIES - 7 CASES FOLLOWED FOR 3 TO 5 YEARS

We describe seven patients with chronic osteomyelitis which developed in 3 following operation and in 4 after trauma. The treatment consiste d of removal of dead tissue and filling the resulting cavities with ge ntamicin-impregnated xenografts. No antibiotics were used postoperativ ely. Urine gentamicin levels were above 0.5 mu g/ml for 8 days. The pa tients were followed up for at least 3.5 years and neither clinical no r laboratory signs of infection were detected These results lead us th e conclusion that gentamicin-impregnated xenografts may have a place i n the treatment of chronic osteomyelitis.