Use of antibiotic cement rod to treat intramedullary infection after nailing: preliminary study in 19 patients

The treatment of intramedullary infections after nailing usually includes removal of the nail, debridement, and, in some cases, insertion of antibiotic-impregnated cement beads. We use this self-made antibiotic cement rod to treat intramedullary infections. Compared with the beads, it provides some limited mechanical support and can be preserved in the canal for a long time. We reviewed 19 infected patients who underwent removal of the nails, excision of sinus tracks, debridement of the canal and insertion of the rods. No recurrent infection occurred in 18 cases and 11 cases achieved bone healing, 6 cases achieved partial union. One patient had nonunion and one patient underwent amputation because of severe primary trauma and long-term infection. The rod was removed between 35 and 123 days after implantation. We conclude that the antibiotic cement rods could be a relatively effective, simple and inexpensive method of treating intramedullary infections after nailing.