Media Releases
January 2008
Research creates hope of reduced infection in treatment of bone fractures and implants
A new treatment to reduce the rate of infections resulting from orthopaedic implants is the focus of a research project funded by The Wesley Research Institute.
Bacterial bone infections are currently the most common complication in the surgical treatment of bone fractures with fracture fixation implants. These infections result in fearful consequences for the patient and cause very high healthcare and socioeconomic costs.
Chief investigator of the project, Professor Michael Schuetz, said that the study had the potential to dramatically reduce the rate of bacterial bone infections and increase the quality of life for patients.
“The frequency of infections is as high as 33 per cent in complex open fractures,” Professor Schuetz said.
“If this project is successful it will help reduce complications and therefore the distress caused to individuals and also the demand on the healthcare system. This will be a very positive outcome for patients, hospitals and the community.”
Studies have found that the total treatment costs for infected bone fractures are more than three times the costs for uninfected fractures.
The main goal of the project is to demonstrate that a thin coating containing specific antibiotics applied to the surface of orthopaedic and trauma implants can prevent bone infections.
This thin coating is biodegradable and has been developed for the controlled release of antibiotics, preventing or treating any infection in the region around the implant.
The concentration of the antibiotics around the implant is much higher than can be achieved by systemic, oral or intravenous application of these drugs, which is essential for preventing the bacteria from developing resistance against the antibiotics used.
If this project demonstrates that these surface coatings successfully prevent bone infection it will be an important step towards clinical studies and the introduction of these methods into clinical practice.
Project partners also include Queensland University of Technology, Queensland Institute of Medical Research and the Technical University of Munich, Germany.
The Wesley Research Institute is an independent, not-for-profit medical research institute based in Brisbane that conducts research that that aims for immediate improvements to quality of life through better diagnosis, treatment and rehabilitation.
