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Orthopaedic Proceedings
Vol. 101-B, Issue SUPP_14 | Pages 78 - 78
1 Dec 2019
HIGH-ENERGY FOCUSED EXTRACORPOREAL SHOCKWAVE THERAPY IN ADDITION TO CONVENTIONAL TREATMENT: RESULTS FROM AN IN VIVO RABBIT MODEL OF FRACTURE-RELATED INFECTION
Pützler J Alexander M Everding J Raschke MJ Arens D Zeiter S Richards GR Moriarty FT
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Aim

Focused high energy extracorporeal shockwave therapy (fhESWT) is used to support fracture healing in non-union cases and has been shown to have antibacterial effects. We trialed fhESWT as an adjunct to conventional treatment in a clinically relevant rabbit model of fracture related infection.

Method

A complete humeral osteotomy was performed in 31 rabbits and fixed with a 7-hole-LCP. A fracture-related infection (FRI) was established with Staphylococcus aureus. After two weeks, a revision surgery was performed with debridement, irrigation and implant retention. Rabbits then received: no further treatment (controls); shockwaves (at day 2 and 6 after revision, 4'000 Impulses each time with 23kV); systemic antibiotics (rifampin and nafcillin) over one week in weight adjusted dosages; or the combination of antibiotics and shockwaves. Treatments were applied over one week. Blood cultures were taken before and after shockwave sessions. After an additional week without treatment, rabbits were euthanized, and quantitative bacteriology was performed on implants and tissues to determine infection burden. Indicator organs (brain, heart, liver, lungs, kidneys and spleen) were cultured to assess possible bacteraemia due to fhESWT.