A new biodegradable delivery system based on low molecular weight poly(lactic acid) has been formulated, with potential application in the sustained antibiotic release against bone infection. The in vitro release of two new quinolones (ofloxacin and ciprofloxacin) from the biodegradable matrix showed that the delivery of ofloxacin from the matrix lasted fifty-six days, whereas that of ciprofloxacin lasted fifty-one days. In both cases, release is controlled by the drug diffusion and the matrix degradation, the latter being the most critical factor. The obtained concentration levels are well above the Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) against the major causative bacteria of osteomyelitis. This fact in combination with the good reproducibility of measurements indicated that the system studied could be of value for the preparation of implantable controlled release systems for treatment of diseases in the bone system.

We present a rare case of a femoral shaft fracture in a 74-year-old woman with a preexisting untreated bilateral congenital hip dislocation and with concomitant leg length discrepancy. Because of the marked deformity of the upper femur, a derivative of the congenital hip disease, an open reduction and internal fixation was performed, with the use of an anatomic femur plate originally designed for the treatment of periprosthetic fractures. The patient was treated successfully and returned to her previous status of activity. The management of a femoral fracture in the presence of ipsilateral hip disease is a challenging issue. The surgical treatment choice in such cases has to be individualized, taking into consideration several anatomic and medical parameters.

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