Despite improvements in the prophylactic and the therapeutic measures, soft-tissue damage and consecutive infection remain the major hurdles in the healing process of long bone fractures. Osteomyelitis is a consequence of local contamination by germs combined with a local and/or systemic immunodeficiency. Additionally, blood supply in the traumatized bone is disturbed which means systemically applied antibiotics cannot reach the fracture site. Consequently, this may lead to chronic osteomyelitis. Once local osteomyelitis has become manifest, removal of the implant and aggressive debridement of the infected bone as well as the soft tissue in combination with heavy local and systemic antibiotic therapy often represent the only option for effective treatment.

Bacteria introduced during the insertion of surgical implants from the lower layers of the patient's own skin, which are not reached by skin disinfection, or at the time of injury in open fractures, are in competition with the patient's immune system. This is often described as "a race for the surface". Certain bacteria can colonize the surface of an implant and form a protective biofilm composed of proteins and polysaccharides, protecting the bacteria from the patient's immune system as well as from the effects of systemically applied antibiotics.

An antibiotic coating on an implant could prevent colonization of the implant's surface. In addition, a coating with high local antimicrobial concentrations could protect the site of injury and avoid side effects resulting from long-term high-dose systemic antibiotic therapy.

The Expert Tibial Nail (ETN) PROtect has a fully resorbable coating which consists of a polylactide (PDLLA) carrier containing gentamicin sulphate (Fig 1) to prevent implant colonization by bacteria. Gentamicin, an antibiotic from the aminoglycoside family, was chosen due to its broad antibacterial spectrum, the bactericidal effect (nonproliferating bacteria), its synergistic effect in combination with cephalosporins, and because it is well established for local application in orthopedics (bone cement, PMMA beads, collagen sponges). Gentamicin has a long and successful clinical track record in orthopedic and trauma surgery, and despite its widespread use, in particular in bone cements, the rates of resistance against gentamicin have remained stable or have been decreasing in recent years. The total amount of antibiotic contained on one implant ranges from around 15-60 mg, depending on the size of the implant. The gentamicin is released from the coating immediately after implantation with an initial burst that achieves a high peak concentration in the first hours and fades out over a period of a few weeks.

After coating, the implant is packaged and sterilized by gamma irradiation and delivered sterile to the clinics. The ETN PROtect can be used in extended indications, such as very proximal or very distal metaphyseal tibial fractures. In addition, the new implant may find its indication in revision surgeries or in patients where the immune system is compromised.

The mechanical properties of the nail are not affected by the coating. Tests on human specimens and plastic bones proved the coating to be resistant to the abrasive forces present during insertion into a narrow and moist bone canal. The surgical technique does not differ from the regular standard of care in ETN implantation.