Cement beads and cement spacers: indications, techniques, and clinical results

To report our experience on the use of antibiotic coated nails (ACN) and cement beads for the management of bone infections.

Infected nonunion (INU) cases were classified as: Type I (mild infection with no gap), Type II (moderate with good alignment, severe infection, gap <3 cm, no deformity), Type III (severe infection with gap ≥3 cm, deformity and limb shortening). Treatment involved either the insertion of ACN and cast (Type I), insertion of ACN, beads and external fixator (Type II), or Ilizarov methodology (Type III). A subset of 28 open fractures were admitted with severe contamination or delayed presentation with established infection and treated with debridement, ACN insertion, and antibiotic beads placed in soft tissue dead space areas.

Results of 133 cases were classified excellent, good, and poor. Type I INU reported 40 excellent and 22 good results. Type II INU reported 28 (39%) excellent, 30 (43%) good, and 13 (18%) poor results. Poor results were due to uncontrolled infection and knee stiffness. Three patients required knee fusion and 1 required amputation. Fracture union was reported in 68 cases. Four of the 28 Gustilo grade III open fractures treated with ACN developed infected nonunion and had poor function caused by stiff knees.

An antibiotic impregnated cement nail (ACN) fills the dead space and elutes high concentrations of antibiotics providing some mechanical stability. We recommend the adjunct use of an ACN for the management of INU cases and for use in select cases of Gustilo grade III open fractures.