mma or pmma to prepare treatment samples antibiotic impregnated ppf mma specimens were prepared in the following manner ppf 96 gm of as yet unpurified fumaric acid and mma 1 gm were thoroughly mixed at 37 degrees c until the ppf was completely dissolved in the mma the resultant matrix material 85 ppf and 15 mma was centrifuged at 6000 rpm for 45 minutes to remove the suspended fumaric acid the purified ppf mma matric was then mixed with benzoyl peroxide 0 25 gm a crosslinking catalyst and the particulate phase which consisted of tcp 7 5 gm 30 45 mesh 355 600 micron diameter and medical grade calcium carbonate powder 7 5 gm after thorough mixing of the particulate composite gentamicin sulfate powder sigma chemical co or vancomycin hydrochloride lypholized powder lederle parenterals inc was added and mixed well finally dimethyl p toluidine dmt 2 drops was added to initiate cross linkage of the cement a 22 25 gm u00b7 batch of the particulate composite was prepared and 15 gms of this was mixed with 0 5 gm of antibiotic to give a 2 gm 60 gm ratio or 3 3 antibiotic two control animals had their initial foreign body implants removed and were not treated all wounds were closed loosely using 2 to 3 interrupted 4 0 vicryl sutures in the distal 2 3 of the wound only again the proximal 1 3 of each wound was left open pre and postoperative radiographs were obtained to document osteomyelitic changes three weeks later 6 weeks post infection all animals were sacrificed by intraperitoneal sodium pentobarbitol followed with an intracardiac injection of sodium pentobarbitol in the operating room under sterile conditions the hindlimbs were dismembered and partially surface sterilized by immersion in 95 alcohol followed by spraying with.