Technique for Placement of Peri-Implant Antibiotics Using Antibiotic Putty.

Abstract

Surgical site infections lead to increased morbidity and health care costs. The use of local antibiotics in the form of powder applied to the surgical wound has significantly increased in orthopaedics. We have developed a technique to introduce local antibiotics in the form of a "putty," to be directly applied to surgical implants. This technique can potentially concentrate the antibiotics around the implant, where it is most needed to prevent bacterial colonization.