Abstract
We present our experience of treating 57 cases of bone defects associated with chronic osteomyelitis (COM) and an algorithm for their treatment.
A retrospective analysis of our operation database revealed 377 patients treated for COM (2002–2010). 76 (20%) had bone defects, of these 57 had notes and x-rays available. The tibia was most commonly affected (63%), followed by the femur (21%). Infection control procedures included debridement, drilling and sequestrectomy. Long-term antibiotics were seldom used. Prerequisites to reconstruction surgery were; fully healed skin, absence of sequestrae on x-ray and no antibiotics for 2-months. Decision on the method of treatment of defect was made depending on; age, defect size, viability of periosteum and physes, condition of soft tissues and coexisting deformity.
Initial treatment was; plaster stabilisation (15), frame stabilisation (6), free fibula structural bone grafts (9), ipsilateral vascularised fibula graft (7), non-structural cancellous bone graft (8), bone transport (8) and amputation (4). Forty three (75%) patients were successfully treated with initial strategy. Initial treatment therefore failed in 14 (25%) patients. Successful treatment subsequently used was; structural bone grafting (6), non-structural bone grafting (4), bone transport (3) and Rush Rod stabilisation (1).
Little is known about osteomyelitis-induced bone defects, which cause massive morbidity in developing countries. Our novel research shows that these can be treated successfully, often by relatively simple methods. In the absence of ongoing infection, non-vascularised bone grafting techniques are often successful. Bone transport or vascularised grafting are more reliable but more complex solutions.
