Arthroscopic insertion of a biologic rotator cuff tissue augmentation after rotator cuff repair.

Tissue augmentation has been used to reinforce repairs of massive chronic rotator cuff tears. This report describes a new technique for arthroscopic insertion of a biologic rotator cuff tissue augmentation. Double-loaded suture anchors are needed for the technique.

Liquid gentamicin in bone cement: a laboratory study of a potentially more cost-effective cement spacer.

Background: Liquid gentamicin is approved by the Food and Drug Administration, is readily available, and is much less costly than tobramycin, the more commonly used antibiotic in cement spacers. The purpose of the present study was to test the mechanical properties, elution characteristics, and antibacterial activity of liquid gentamicin in an acrylic bone cement spacer.

Methods: Standardized specimens consisting of Palacos cement combined with liquid gentamicin, powdered tobramycin, or no antibiotic were fashioned, and the three groups were tested with regard to compressive and tensile strength, elution characteristics (with use of radioimmunoassays), and antibacterial activity (with use of bioassays).