Are stimulan beads effective enough in managing chronic long-standing infections of bones?

Abstract

A long-standing infection of bone is called chronic osteomyelitis, which is a very debilitating condition for the patient. Management of which requires involvement from many medical specialities, including orthopaedics, plastic surgery, microbiology, etc. However, surgical debridement remains the most important mode of treatment, administration of proper anti-microbial therapy has utmost importance for the success of treatment. IV antibiotics have their own share of problems i.e., long hospital stay, Antibiotic’s side effects, IV cannula related infection, thrombophlebitis, etc. Most times, surgical debridement creates dead space, which in itself is a problem to address. Stimulan works as an antibiotic carrier made up of calcium sulphate which is absorbable helps in battling issues like dead space & local antibiotic delivery. Here we aim to study the effect of Stimulan in the management of chronic long-standing infections of bones. Here we conducted a retrospective study on 24 patients operated with Stimulan beads at Civil Hospital Ahmedabad in the last 2 years with a minimum follow-up period of 1 year. This study aims to establish or nullify the efficacy of Stimulan bio-absorbable beads in patients operated on for chronic osteomyelitis.