If you have an infected bone, your doctor may treat it with medicated beads. These are placed into the bone to send medicine directly into the infection. And that's helpful, because your bone may not have good blood flow. Lack of blood flow to the bone can keep antibiotics taken by mouth or by IV from reaching the infection. Here's how medicated beads are implanted.
To start, you are given medicine to put you to sleep. An incision is made in your skin to reach your infected bone. The infected area is cleaned. The doctor may remove infected parts of the bone.
Then, the beads are packed into the bone. They will release medicine to kill the germs. Over time, the beads will break down, and your body will use them to grow healthy new bone.
When the surgery is done, the opening in your skin is closed and you are monitored. Your healthcare provider will create a care plan to help you heal.