Antibiotic delivery system and method for treating an infected synovial joint during re-implantation of an orthopedic prosthesis

A method of treating an infected joint during a two-stage re-implantation of an orthopedic implant, said method comprising the steps of:

• removing the infected implants mounted to the medullary canal of a bone;
• debriding the medullary canal;
• installing an intramedullary stem into the medullary canal where the stem includes an inlet, a plurality of outlets and a channel extending between the inlet and the plurality of outlets;
• said stem including a plurality of fins extending along a longitudinal axis of the stem and disposed in spaced angular relationship with respect to each other so as to define valleys that provide fluid flow spaces disposed between adjacent fins and a plurality of outlets disposed along said stem and between an outer surface of one of said plurality of adjacent fins in said valleys and in fluid communication with said fluid flow spaces providing a source of fluid-borne antibiotic to the inlet of the intramedullary stem so as to distribute the antibiotic into the medullary canal in a controlled fashion.

A system for treating infected tissue, the system comprising:

• a source of a fluid;
• an intramedullary stem adapted to be removably mounted into a medullary canal of a bone;
• wherein the medullary canal of the bone is defined by an inner wall of the bone,
• wherein the intramedullary stem comprises a body with a longitudinal axis, a proximal end, a distal end, an outer body surface adapted to engage the inner wall of the bone, an inlet in fluid communication with the source of the fluid, a plurality of outlets disposed longitudinally along the outer body surface, and a channel extending between the inlet and the plurality of outlets, the body including a plurality of fins extending therealong and disposed so as to define valleys that provide fluid flow spaces disposed between adjacent fins, wherein the fluid is delivered from the source to the plurality of outlets so as to distribute the fluid along the medullary canal in a controlled fashion;
• and
• a negative pressure wound therapy system for treating the infected tissue.

An intramedullary implant for treating infected tissue, said intramedullary implant comprising:

• a stem adapted to be removably mounted into a medullary canal of a bone, the medullary canal defined by an inner wall of the bone, wherein the stem comprises a longitudinal axis, a proximal end, a distal end, an outer stem surface adapted to engage the inner wall of the bone, at least one inlet in fluid communication with a fluid, a plurality of outlets disposed longitudinally along the outer stem surface, and a channel extending between the at least one inlet and the plurality of outlets, the stem including a plurality of fins extending therealong and disposed so as to define valleys that provide fluid flow spaces disposed between adjacent fins;
• a neck disposed at the proximal end of the stem;
• and
• a head coupled to the neck, wherein the head comprises an outer head surface that is configured to engage a socket of a joint, a plurality of outlets disposed along the outer head surface and in fluid communication with the at least one inlet;
• and
• wherein the fluid is adapted to be delivered from the plurality of outlets of the stem to the medullary canal in a controlled fashion, and
• wherein the fluid is adapted to be delivered from the plurality of outlets of the head to the socket of the joint in a controlled fashion.