The effect of implanting gentamicin-impregnated polymethylmethacrylate beads in the tarsocrural joint of the horse

Objective-To determine the effect of intra-articular gentamicin-impregnated polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) beads inserted in the equine tarsocrural joi nt on the synovial fluid, synovial lining, and cartilage, and to determine the peak and sustainable gentamicin concentrations in synovial fluid and pl asma. Study Design-Pharmacokinetic, cytologic, and histologic study of the effect of gentamicin-impregnated PMMA on normal equine tarsocrural joints. Animals-Five healthy adult horses. Methods-Gentamicin-impregnated PMMA bead strands (3 strands each of 40 bead s, with each strand containing 100 mg gentamicin) were surgically inserted into one radiographically normal tarsocrural joint in 5 horses. Each horse had both joints flushed with 1 L of lactated Ringer's solution before bead administration. Synovial fluid total protein concentration, white blood cel l (WBC) count, gentamicin concentration, synovial histology, cartilage inte grity, and cartilage glycosaminoglycan (GAG) concentrations were determined . Results-Gentamicin concentration (mean +/- SEM peak concentration, 27.9 +/- 2.27 mug/mL) occurred in the first 24 hours and remained above 2 mug/mL fo r 9 days. Gentamicin concentrations in control joints and the plasma remain ed below detectable levels. The synovial fluid WBC count for treated joints was increased compared with control joints fur 72 hours, but was similar a t day 6. The synovial protein concentration in gentamicin-treated joints re mained increased for 21 days. Synovium in treated joints had diffuse synovi tis, whereas control joints had less fibrovascular proliferation. Superfici al cartilage erosion was present in all treated joints. There was no differ ence in the GAG content of treated and control joint cartilage. Conclusions-Short-term implantation of gentamicin (300 mg)-impregnated PMMA beads can provide therapeutic levels of gentamicin (>2 mug/mL) in the norm al tarsocrural joint for 9 days; however, gentamicin-impregnated PMMA beads induce synovitis and superficial cartilage erosion. Clinical Relevance-Temporary intra-articular administration of antibiotic-i mpregnated PMMA may be an effective way to treat septic joints that require constant high concentrations of antibiotics. (C) Copyright 2001 by The Ame rican College of Veterinary Surgeons.