Antibiotic cement-coated plate is a viable and efficient technique for the definitive management of metaphyseal septic nonunions of the femur and tibia

OBJECTIVE: the management of septic metaphyseal nonunions is challenging, with inconsistent outcomes. Antibiotic cement-coated implants have been demonstrated good outcome for diaphyseal infected nonunions, however there is no data in metaphyseal infected nonunions. METHODS: fifteen adult patients with septic metaphyseal nonunions of the femur or tibia were treated with antibiotic cement-coated plates. The antibiotic cement-coated plate was prepared with either gentamicin or vancomycin. Outcome measures were infection control, bone healing, return to pre-injury level on daily activities, and quality of life at the last follow-up visit. A p value of <5% was considered significant. RESULTS: Methicillin-susceptible S. aureus was isolated in 53.3% cases. Average postoperative follow-up time was 18 months. Local infection control and radiographic bone healing were adequately achieved in 93.3% patients. No patient presented recurrent symptoms of surgical site infection. Fourteen patients reported to be either able, or on the same level as before injury, with 73.3% reporting no problems in all five dimensions of the EQ-5D-3L. Persistent infection was the only variable associated with a reduced long-term quality of life. CONCLUSION: antibiotic cement-coated plate is a viable and efficient surgical technique for the definitive management of juxta-articular metaphyseal septic nonunions of the femur and tibia.