Experience acquired by applying gentamicin-sponge.

Chronic suppuration is a reverting problem in surgical practice. The concerned region either has insufficient circulation due to basic disease, or systemic antibiotics takes no effect due to inflammatory barrier developed meanwhile. For this reason Authors initiated systematic use of gentamicin sponge (Garamycin, Schering-Plough, USA) two years ago. During this period we implanted gentamicin sponge in 40 cases. After primary intervention in 85% of treated patients we observed complete recovery, or in case of ulcus cruris we reached proper condition for skin-transplantation. Three patients needed further incision and in two cases amputation of diabetic foot could not be avoided. Our results support the effectivity of gentamicin sponge in treating local inflammatory processes supplementing and increasing efficiency of surgical procedures.