For amputees
What is Osseointergration?
The use of osseointegrating titanium implants has been offering hope and improved quality of life for over 25 years. The surgery involves inserting a metal implant into the bone of a residual limb, allowing for a direct attachment to the prosthesis and eliminating issues related to sockets.However, research does indicate osseointegration prosthetics can carry a higher risk of surface and internal infection.
The method offers considerable advantages in daily life to provide better function and mobility compared with conventional socket prostheses, however long-term success might be jeopardized by implant-associated infection, especially osteomyelitis. 2
The skin cannot seal to the integrated rod, leading to an increased risk of infection in daily life. This is especially concerning for individuals living in tropical climates or working in dusty, dirty environments such as mechanic workshops.2
Add to this, the external prosthetics metal connection (SPS) is exposed to microbes and can easily become re-infected. Careful creation and management of this transdermal interface is crucial to prevent infection.
Unfortunately, as the post-antibiotic era, arrives this causes serious and life threatening problems. I have successfully trailed the Panakea Cream and Breathe Easy treatment on 10 osseointegration amputees suffering from antibiotic resistant Staphlococcus and Pseudomonas chronic infections. The Panakea Antiseptic Cream can also be used pro-actively to help prevent infection occurring.
Click here to watch Garys testimomial
Biofilms, one of the leading causes of antibiotic failure and can exist on the external tip, skin and internally.
Understanding the source of most infections, particularly if they stem from ongoing bacterial infiltration at the skin and implant interface, is crucial.
Identifying preventive measures for this scenario is essential. It is crucial to determine if most infections result from continuous bacterial invasion at the skin and implant interface, the role of a biofilm, and if so, how this can be prevented?
Nature + Science Solutions
Unfortunately long-term use of antibiotics takes a large toll on your kidneys and gut health, compromising a healthy immune system. It becomes a viscous cycle. Side effects include nausea, and concerns of Kidney damage.
Numerous scientific studies illustrate the effects of botanical extracts and essential oils against bacteria, virus and biofilms. There are also internal treatments, such as probiotics,echinacea, and oregano that can support a strong immune system.
Discover how the Panakea Range provides a natural solution to maintain antiseptic practices, proactively fighting against infection by targeting biofilms, bacteria, and viruses while enhancing immunity at the site.
Initial research also shows that the Panakea Cream is a potent aid, enhancing antibiotic effectiveness by eliminating biofilm, enabling antibiotics to target bacteria.
FAQS
For any questions regarding how to use the Panakea range with a chronic infection go to Antiseptic Cream Uses, and scroll down for the section on Amputees Chronic Infection
What are the risks of osseointegration?
The odds of experiencing risks are low, but they can include:
- Infection
- Implant loosening
- Fracture
One interesting study revealed that 65% of the research papers examined reported some form of infection as the most commonly mentioned risk. These infections included superficial or stoma infections, deep infections or osteomyelitis, and peri-implant infections. Of the studies reported some form of infection was the most commonly mentioned risk. These infections included superficial or stoma infections, deep infections or osteomyelitis, and peri-implant infections.
Superficial infection is a relatively common experience among osseointegration patients. Good hygiene is key to minimising the risk of infection. Typically, superficial infections affect around a third of all osseointegration patients and may be successfully treated by a short course of antibiotics. For patients living in tropical or subtropical climates, good hygiene is important in keeping insects clear of the stoma and preventing Myiasis. 3
Less commonly, patients may contract an infection, which affects the deeper layers of the soft tissue or the bone. This chronic infection will probably also have created a biofilm, causing antibiotic resistance. In this case, it may be necessary to remove the implant and clear the infection before refitting the implant.
What is the most common cause of prosthetic infection?
In the first few months after surgery, the causes of infection are: Staphylococcus aureus in about 50% of cases, mixed flora in 35%, gram-negative organisms in 10%, and anaerobes in 5%. Pseudomonas infections, often acquired in hospitals, are increasing rapidly.
The osseointegrated device, anchored in bone, is attached to the prosthetic via an SPS metallic rod. Careful creation and management of this skin interface is crucial to prevent infection, including the concern with the SPS reinfecting.
The site is susceptible to infection by external bacteria, which can use the implant as a pathway to infect the surrounding soft tissues or bone, leading to both superficial and deep infections. Efforts to create a "biologic seal" have not been very successful. The existence of biofilms adds a huge challenge to maintaining an infection free surface.
Solutions
There is a vital need to regularly maintain and clean the interface between the skin and the implant. There is always a risk of superficial skin infections or deep tissue infections.
Medical solutions
- Surgery-Arthrotomy with debridement
- Long-term internal antibiotic therapy
The most common treatment is long-term internal antibiotic therapy, which usually combines coverage for methicillin-resistant gram-positive organisms and aerobic gram-negative organisms.
The overall rate of infection-free success is 5 years, after combined medical and surgical treatment, is 56%. If patients cannot tolerate surgery, long-term antibiotic therapy alone can be tried.
Patients are at increased risk due to chronic colonization of bacteria at the SPS. Staphylococcus Aureus and coagulase-negative staphylococcus are the most common organisms causing these infections, resulting in additional surgical procedures in 5–8% of patients.
Most infections are superficial and occur at the implant–skin interface and are successfully treated with a short course of oral antibiotics; however, deeper infections or osteomyelitis are proving problematic due to their resistance to antibiotic treatments, ineffective when a biofilm is present. 4. Biofilms also prevent our immune cells from reaching and destroying the bacteria. AT this stage the pharmaceutical sector has not been able to overcome a biofilm.
There is a crucial need to regularly maintain and clean the interface between the skin and the implant to prevent superficial skin infections or deep tissue infections.
Nature + Science Solutions
Combatting bacterial and viral cells, biofilms, and boosting immunity, discover the transformative power of my Panakea Range. Panakeas antiseptic cream, enriched with natural antibacterial agents for topical use, and Breathe Easy, formulated with soothing antimicrobial essential oils for respiratory aid, to reduce internal infections and destroy biofilms.
For optimal results, it's crucial to use the cream as soon as possible. Especially for amputees, post-implant recovery is a critical time to minimize the risk of deeper infection. The cream is transdermal, which means active ingredients penetrate the skin, treating underlying tissue. However it can only treat what it can reach.
Paired with antibiotics, it enhances their efficacy, possibly by assisting in biofilm removal to improve antibiotic access to infections.
It is vital you wash your SPS once a day with an antiseptic wash that destroys bacteria and biofilms. Go to Breathe Easy Uses for directions.
Alternatively you can wipe it down with a very small amoint of Breathe Easy.
Research articles
1 Clinical Orthopaedics and Related Research 475(12):p 3100-3108, December 2017. | DOI: 10.1007/s11999-017-5507-2Osteomyelitis Risk in Patients With Transfemoral Amputations Treated With Osseointegration Prostheses National Institutes of Health (NIH) (.gov) -
3. https://osseointegration.org/osseointegration-research-clinical-evidence/
4. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666769X2300009X
R.L. McGough, et al.
The Compress® transcutaneous implant for rehabilitation following limb amputation