Abstract
Aim
This study was conducted to investigate the clinical outcome, functional outcome, and quality of life of patients treated for post traumatic osteomyelitis (PTO) of femur and tibia from July 2007 to June 2014.
Method
Forty seven patients consented and participated in this study. The median age of participants was 44 years old, and ranges from 16 to 80 years old. There were 26 tibia and 21 femur osteomyelitis evaluated in this study. Thirty-eight participants (80.9%) had implants inserted. The PTO patients were classified according to Cierny-Mader (CM) classification: 2 CM-I; 8 CM-II; 18 CM III; 19 CM IV and 25 CM-A and 19 CM-B. The participants were follow up for a mean duration of 4.6 years (range 2.3–9.5 years). Interviews were then conducted and clinical assessments were performed to evaluate the clinical outcome. Their functional outcome was evaluated using the Lower Extremity Functional Score (LEFS) and the quality of life was evaluated using the validated SF-36v2 and the results were compared to the general population (GP).
Results
Forty four (93.6%) of participants had achieved union without recurrence of infection. Others who had failure of treatment were CM-IIIA, CM-IVA, and CM-IVB. Concurrent medical problem and CM-B (Systemic) hosts significantly contributed to poorer functional outcome, and lower quality of life score especially the Physical Component domain.
Conclusions
Most patients with post traumatic osteomyelitis had successful treatment. However their quality of life was poorer in comparison to the general population. Concurrent medical problem and CM-B (Systemic) hosts had significantly poorer functional outcome and quality of life than the general population.
