Surgical site infections subjected to photodynamic therapy: a potential application in orthopaedic surgery

Abstract

Introduction Photodynamic therapy, a minimally invasive oncological modality, has been in use for over 20 years. However, little clinical data is available on its non-oncological efficacy. Several laboratory-based trials on animals have suggested that this technology may be applicable as an antimicrobial therapy. In orthopaedics, where implants and metal work are placed in deep tissue planes, a potential risk of infection is treated very seriously. Infection not only increases patient morbidity and mortality but also the burden on healthcare system. Proposing a new modality that can instantly tackle this problem. This critical review discusses surgical site infections subjected to photodynamic therapy. Conclusion Surgical care should be state of the art with careful attention to strategies that avoid the development of SSIs. When SSI does occur, superficial and deep wound infections can be treated using PDT by applying topical photosensitiser to the area followed by light illumination.

Antimicrobial photodynamic therapy—a promising treatment for prosthetic joint infections

“…Several in vitro studies have investigated the use of antimicrobial PDT and results are promising. Studies using various photosensitizers have demonstrated a complete bactericidal effect on a number of Gram-positive bacteria [ 22 ]. However, there appears to be a difference in susceptibility to PDT between Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria.…”

Role of platelet-rich plasma in soft and hard connective tissue healing: an evidence-based review from basic to clinical application

“…Treatment of musculoskeletal injuries is often hard to manage, because these soft and hard connective tissues have low vascularity, healing rate and capability and tolerate stressful forces during the healing process, which increase complications [1][2][3][4] . Several reconstructive techniques and tissue engineering approaches have been introduced with the aim to restore the initial function at the injured area 2,5 ; however, due to the low healing capacity and several well-defined complications such as adhesions in the healing tendons, non-union and osteomyelitis in the healing bones, there is a need for accelerating the healing response in these tissues with the hope to improve the final outcome of the patients 2,[6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13] . Several healing promotive agents such as glycosaminoglycans and growth factors have been tested in animal studies with this purpose, but due to insufficient related clinical trials their clinical efficacy has not been well approved [6][7][8][9][10][14][15][16][17][18][19] .…”