title: Chronic osteomyelitis. The effect of the extent of surgical resection on infection-free survival.
abstract: We studied prospectively a consecutive series of 50 patients with chronic osteomyelitis. Patients were allocated to the following treatment groups: 1) wide resection, with a clearance margin of 5 mm or more; 2) marginal resection, with a clearance margin of less than 5 mm; and 3) intralesional biopsy, with debulking of the infected area. All patients had a course of antibiotics, intravenously for six weeks followed by orally for a further six weeks. No patients in group 1 had recurrence. In patients treated by marginal resection (group 2), 8 of 29 (28%) had recurrence. All patients who had debulking had a recurrence within one year of surgery. We performed a survival analysis to determine the time of the recurrence of infection. In group 2 there was a higher rate of recurrence in type-B hosts (p < 0.05); no type-A hosts had recurrence. This information is of use in planning surgery for chronic osteomyelitis.
authors.affiliation: Nuffield Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Oxford, England.
authors.forename: A H
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: Simpson
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Deakin
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Latham
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage; D002908:Chronic Disease; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019637:Orthopedic Procedures / Q000379:methods; D010019:Osteomyelitis / Q000601:surgery*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012008:Recurrence
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents