title: Chronic osteomyelitis in patients with sickle cell disease.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the baseline pattern and audit management modalities of chronic osteomyelitis in patients with sickle cell disease.
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Jos University Teaching Hospital, Jos, Nigeria from August 1993 to July 1997.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty four patients with concomitant chronic sickle cell disease.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fifteen patients had operations; eleven had sequestrectomy and curettage while four had incision and drainage. Eight patients were treated with antibiotics alone and one patient refused surgery.
  
  
  METHODS
  The demographic data of patients, aetiological agents, culture and sensitivity patterns, aetiopathogenesis, treatment modalities and outcome were analysed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Twenty four (36.9%) out of 65 patients who had chronic osteomyelitis also had sickle cell disease. Male:female ratio was 1.2:1. The peak age incidence (37.5%) was in the first decade of life. Seventy five per cent of infections were haematogenous. The most frequently isolated organism was Staphylococcus aureus (58.8%) while the rest were Gram negative organisms. There was no case of Salmonella osteomyelitis. The most sensitive antibiotics were gentamicin and the third generation cephalosporins. Twelve patients (50%) had good results while eight (33.3%) were still undergoing treatment. Complications recorded were persistent discharging sinuses in two cases, recurrence of symptoms in one and pathological fracture with non-union in one patient.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Though the incidence of Gram negative organisms in causation of chronic osteomyelitis in patients who have sickle cell disease is high (41.2%), Salmonella osteomyelitis may be related to endemicity of the organism in a given locality.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Jos University Teaching Hospital, Nigeria.
authors.forename: H C
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: Nwadiaro
authors.forename: B T
authors.initials: BT
authors.lastname: Ugwu
authors.forename: J N
authors.initials: JN
authors.lastname: Legbo
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000755:Anemia, Sickle Cell / Q000150:complications*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002908:Chronic Disease; D004352:Drug Resistance, Microbial; D005260:Female; D006785:Hospitals, University; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D009549:Nigeria; D010019:Osteomyelitis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000628:therapy*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D017678:Sex Distribution