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Updated: Aug 16, 2026
Treatment with Vancomycin Loaded Calcium Sulphate and Autogenous Bone in an Improved Rabbit Model of Bone Infection
Published on: March 14, 2019
Dystrophic calcification within biologic graft occurring with use of calcium sulfate antibiotic beads masquerading as
Samuel Minor1, Judy Rowe2, Marius Hoogerboord3
1Department of Surgery and Critical Care Medicine, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada.
Abstract:
The rare (<2%) development of calcium deposits in soft tissue, known as dystrophic calcification (DC) with the use of Stimulan® (Biocomposites Ltd, Wilmington, NC) absorbable, calcium sulfate antibiotic beads (CSABs) in the setting of orthopedic surgery has previously been described. However, the use of CSAB in hernia repair is relatively novel and its association with the development of DC in this setting has not been previously reported. We describe a case where DC following abdominal wall reconstruction with CSAB was misinterpreted on CT imaging as an enteric fistula and almost resulted in an unnecessary emergency surgical procedure.
