Antibiotic Bone Cement and Casting Materials; Used For the Fixation of Joint Implants to the Bone

Antibiotic bone cement and casting materials, such as poly-methyl-methacrylate, coralline hydroxyapatite, calcium sulfate, and calcium phosphate cement, is used for implant fixation in various orthopaedic and trauma surgery. Antibiotic bone cement can be used to either treat an infection following surgery, or to prophylactically prevent an infection at the time of surgery. Antibiotic bone cement and casting materials are widely used for the fixation of joint implants to the bone. Tobramycin, cefuroxime, and gentamicin are the antibiotics most commonly used in bone cement in clinical studies worldwide.

Bone cement supports artificial joints of elbow, knee, and shoulder for more than half century. Bone cement plugs the gap between bone and prosthesis, while casting materials are made up of plastic that encloses limb to stabilize broken bones. In bone cement, acrylate based plastics are also used. Casting materials are used to support injured or broken bone. These materials act as a bandage or supportive wrap around injured or broken bone. These materials are available in various sizes and shapes, and fiberglass and plasters are the most common type of casting materials used in antibiotic bone cement.

Thus, with the increasing incidents of falls, sports injuries, and road-accidents, the demand for antibiotic bone cement and casting materials is also increasing with a rapid pace, worldwide. Factures in hip and knee, are caused by fall from height, trauma, or vehicle collision. Moreover, less use of protective equipment during sports leads to serious sports injuries to the joints. The population of Japan is aging rapidly, and osteoarthritis of the hip or knee is extremely common in the aging population. According to Japan’s Aging Society, around 28.7 % of the population is 65 or older, and by 2036, people aged 65 and over will represent a third of the population.

Total hip or knee replacement is effective in improving joint function, quality of life, and pain reduction. Antibiotic bone cement is used to treat infected joint arthroplasty and prophylaxes in total joint replacement in selected cases. Thus, there is an increasing demand for antibiotic bone cement and casting materials worldwide.