Three papers based on the successful use of CERAMENT G to treat bone infections were presented at the British Limb Reconstruction Society (BLRS) Meeting 2018, which took place from the 15-16th March in Southampton, reports the company.

One of the papers, entitled ‘The choice of local antibiotic carrier significantly affects outcome in treatment of chronic bone infection’ by J Ferguson, M Mifsud, D Stubbs and MA McNally, compared the use of CERAMENT G in 160 patients with chronic bone infection (mean follow-up 1.4 years) vs the use of Osteoset T in 137 patients with chronic bone infection (mean follow-up 2.5 years). The data presented showed that CERAMENT G demonstrates significantly better bone healing and is associated with a lower rate of recurrent infection, wound leakage and subsequent fracture risk.

A second of the papers was ‘Internal Fixation and Local Antibiotics for Infected Non-unions; technique and outcome at over one year’ by MA McNally, J Ferguson, M Mifsud and D Stubbs. In a series of 12 cases of infected non-union and segmental bone loss up to 1cm treated by intramedullary nails/plates and CERAMENT G, all patients were infection free at a mean follow-up of 23 months and union was achieved in 92% of patients with primary surgery alone.

The final paper presented was ‘Outcomes of simultaneous Ilizarov frame reconstruction and free muscle flaps in the management of complex limb infection’ by M Mifsud, J Ferguson, D Stubbs, A Ramsden and MA McNally. In a series of 56 patients (34 osteomyelitis and 22 infected non-unions) treated by Ilizarov reconstruction (a type of external fixation), muscle flaps and CERAMENT G, at a mean follow-up of 22 months, 97.7% had achieved bony union. Recurrence rate of infection in this very challenging subgroup of patients was 8.9%.

“The papers we have presented at BLRS continue to emphasise the important benefits that CERAMENT® G can provide in various bone infection situations across large numbers of patients. Its ability to prevent infection recurrence through local antibiotic delivery whilst simultaneously allowing for bone remodelling offers advantages including reduced readmission rates and number of operations for patients,” said Mr Martin McNally, Consultant Bone Infection and Limb Reconstruction Surgeon at Oxford University Hospitals (Oxford, UK) and co-author on all papers presented.