Photodynamic Therapy
Treatment of bone tumours and soft tissue sarcomas.
Our aim here is to decrease the risk of infection in megaprosthesis implantation procedures in order to provide a better outcome and life quality, less morbidity and lower amputation rates for the patients.
Infection in megaprostheses implantation after resection of bone tumours leads to patient morbidity, prolongs operating times and has a higher cost to health providers. It is a debilitating procedure that can lead to a poor functional outcome and in some cases amputation. The infection rate after megaprostheses insertion is up to 15% for a primary limb salvage and can go up to 43% for a revision surgery compared with a rate of 1- 2?% for joint replacements.
Infections occur due to the formation of a bacterial biofilm on the surface of the implant and its surrounding area. We are developing Photodynamic Therapy (PDT) as a method to eradicate biofilms in orthopaedic surfaces due to its capacity of killing bacterial cells destroying the biofilm without harming the host cells. We use a combination of laser light, photosensitising solution and oxygen to kill bacteria.
We have shown in our laboratory that PDT can kill biofilms on orthopaedic and it is essential that this promising work is developed and translated into clinical practice. This is ground breaking research that must be continued.