Taurolin in the treatment of experimental post traumatic osteitis

Post-traumatic osteitis (PTO) still constitutes a medical and surgical problem. Although different treatment regimes have been tested, controversial results have been obtained. Taurolin-gel® 4% and Taurolin®-collagen are broad spectrum synthetic antibacterial agents used for the local treatment of PTO. This study was designed to evaluate Taurolin under standardised conditions using an animal model for experimentally induced PTOIn 21 rabbits a PTO was induced in the left femur and they were assigned into three groups. Four weeks after this operation the second operation followed: in group A (n=5) the intramedullairy rod was removed and the marrow cavity flushed with Ringer lactate solution. In groups B and C (n=16) Taurolin®-gel 4% or Taurolin®-collagen was installed into the marrow cavity after the same debridement. The disease was monitored by hematologic, roentgenografic and bacteriological parameters.After 4 weeks all animals showed signs of an osteitis. At obduction the marrow flush and bone cultures of group A all consisted S. aureus. In group B three out of eight and in group C two out of eight cultures showed bacterial grows.Treatment of an animal PTO is more difficult than the human disease for thorough debridement is difficult. Even though we achieved a succespercentage of 69%. This is a number which is also described in clinical studies. Further investigations with Taurolin® are necessary to develop an optimal treatment regime and to determine to what extent it can be integrated in everyday clinical practise.