On-demand antibiotic-eluting microchip for implanted spinal screws.

OBJECTIVE: Surgical instrumentation of the spine is susceptible to infection. Intravenous antibiotics is a current mainstay of treating infection; however penetrating the bacterial biofilm and directly targeting the source of the infection is challenging.

METHODS: Using multiple reservoirs of discrete drug doses, microchips represent a new technology capable of on-demand drug release over long periods of time.

RESULTS: A novel solution of integrating vancomycin-eluting microchips into pedicle screws in order directly target and treat spinal infections is proposed.

CONCLUSION: This drug-releasing implant has the potential to provide the particular benefit to high-infection-risk patients in order to avoid reoperation.