Are antibiotic coated rods (ACRs) and antibiotic coated plates (ACPs) an acceptable alternative to cement only implants?

Authors: Volker Alt, J. Tracy Watson

RECOMMENDATION: Antibiotic-loaded polymethyl methacrylate (AL-PMMA) spacers can be considered an established treatment concept for local antibiotic delivery in osteomyelitis and implant-associated infections. ACRs and ACPs can also be of value in specific indications, mainly infected non-unions, in order to address both local delivery of antibiotics and biomechanically stable fixation of the non-union site to allow for possible spontaneous bone consolidation.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Limited

DELEGATE VOTE: Agree: 91%, Disagree: 5%, Abstain: 4% (Super Majority, Strong Consensus)

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