Effect of three different sterilizing solutions on the contaminated bone: an experimental study in the rabbit

Background: To determine the efficacy of three different antiseptic solutions (Control group (I), Antibiotic solution – Neomycin and polymyxin (II), Chlorhexidine 0.4% (III), and povidone – iodine 10% (IV)) in disinfecting contaminated bone fragments. Methods: Under sterile conditions, the femora of 12 rabbits were removed and cut into six millimeter pieces. A total of 200 bone specimens were obtained. All 200 specimens were dropped on the operating room floor for fifteen seconds and assigned to one of four experimental groups. Group I samples were cultured after immersion in normal saline solution (Control group). In other three groups, prior to culture the samples, they were washed with normal saline for ninety seconds and placed in an antibiotic solution (Neomycin & Polymyxin) (group II), Chlorhexidine 0.4% (group III), and povidone-iodine 10% (group IV) respectively. Results: In group I, 22 of 50 specimens had positive cultures. Of 50 specimens of group II and IV, positive cultures were found in 3 and 2 grafts respectively after 10 days whereas no positive cultures were detected in any samples of group III. Conclusion: Chlorhexidine 0.4% seems to be the best antiseptic solution for discontaminating the contaminated bone samples although it did not have any significant difference with povidone-iodine and other antibiotic solution.