Investigation of mechanical strength of teicoplanin and ciprofloxacin impregnated bone cement on Day 1 and Day 15.

Objective: The aim of this study was to compare the mechanical effects of different concentrations of teicoplanin and ciprofloxacin addition in bone cement.

Methods: In an experimental design, 3 different doses of teicoplanin and ciprofloxacin (800, 1600 and 3200 mg) were added to bone cement. Mechanical tests using compression and four-point bending tests were performed on Day 1 and after antibiotic leaching in water at 37°C on Day 15. Specimens that contained no antibiotics served as controls. Mechanical strength for each antibiotic concentration on Day 1 and Day 15 were evaluated.

Results: Both teicoplanin and ciprofloxacin significantly decreased the mean strength values in compression and four-point bending tests at Days 1 and 15 (p<0.05). While teicoplanin significantly decreased the mean strength values at high doses in both tests at Days 1 and 15 (p<0.05), ciprofloxacin did not significantly change these values. When the effects of two drugs compared, there were significant differences at the 3200 mg dose at Day 1 and at 1600 and 3200 mg doses at Day 15 in the compression testing and at 3200 mg at Day 15 in the four-point bending test.

Conclusion: Teicoplanin and ciprofloxacin addition may adversely affect the biomechanical strength of bone cement. Ciprofloxacin addition seems to have less of a negative effect on strength than teicoplanin.