The treatment of chronic osteomyelitis

Abstract

Our concept in the local treatment of purulent osteomyelitis with instability of the bone fragments consists of: excision of sinus tracts and infected soft tissue, removal of sequestra and dead bone, stabilization of the bone fragments by plates or external skeletal fixation, open irrigation, and grafting of the bone defect with autologous cancellous bone. With strict adherence to this concept, we have treated 213 cases with post-traumatic osteomyelitis. In a closed series of 200 followed-up cases, complete weight-bearing stability was achieved in 190, and partial weight-bearing stability in 10 cases. The amputation rate was about 5%.