Abstract
Aims: The objectives of this study were i) to deþne the impact of osteomyelitis in the patientñs quality of life, and ii) to grade this impact in order to revert this social deterioration on an early fashion. Material and Methods: Thirty six patients with a diagnosis of chronic osteomyelitis and still under treatment were retrospectively reviewed and they were asked to completed a questionnaire. The main questions were: 1) evidence of long-term complications 2) length of treatment 3) number of surgeries 4) number and type of antibiotic treatments 5) employment or education changes during the disease 6) health insurance coverage changes during the disease 7) marital status changes over the course of the disease 8) need to spend savings to pay for treatment 9) new onset depression 10) new addictions.
The patients were graded from I to III according to the results of the questionnaire. Results: The patients were classiþed as Grade I if they were still employed and did not undergo any major social losses. Grade II if they are unemployed, without insurance but with an intact family core, and Grade III if the had also lost their family support. Discussion and conclusion: All efforts should be directed to keep the patient on a Grade I. Progression of the patient to a Grade II or III should be avoided. Failure to recognize the early impact of the disease may cause an inevitable progression in the grade of social impairment. The greatest challenge in the treatment of osteomyelitis is to prevent the social deterioration that accompanies and is the hallmark of this disease by an effective early surgical and clinical intervention.
Theses abstracts were prepared by Professor Dr. Frantz Langlais. Correspondence should be addressed to him at EFORT Central Office, Freihofstrasse 22, CH-8700 Küsnacht, Switzerland.
