antibiotic cement bead pouch (University of Maryland College Park)

The antibiotic cement bead pouch is a local drug delivery system used in orthopedic surgery for the management of severe open fractures, particularly open tibia fractures. The technique involves the intraoperative creation of beads from polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) bone cement impregnated with broad-spectrum antibiotics, most commonly vancomycin and tobramycin. These beads are placed directly into the debrided fracture site to provide high local concentrations of antibiotics while minimizing systemic toxicity. The wound is then sealed with a semi-permeable adhesive drape to create a "pouch," which maintains the local antibiotic environment and protects the wound from external contaminants. This method is frequently compared to negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT) in clinical trials (such as the Beads vs Vac trial) to evaluate its efficacy in reducing surgical site infections, osteomyelitis, and unplanned reoperations.

Other names

antibiotic bead pouchbead pouch techniqueantibiotic-impregnated cement beads