title: Outcome of management of chronic osteomyelitis at National Orthopaedic Hospital, Enugu.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Chronic osteomyelitis remains challenging to treat despite advances in antibiotics and new operative techniques. The associated morbidity and difficulty in eradicating the infection has posed a problem for the surgeon. The objective of the study is to evaluate the management of chronic osteomyelitis using the National Orthopaedic Hospital Enugu experience and recommend some modification of the treatment protocol in antibiotic usage.
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective study was carried out. Records of fifty patients presenting with chronic osteomyelitis over a ten year period from 1997 to 2006 were analyzed. Patients with incomplete records were excluded.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The young active age group was more involved. Majority of the patients presented quite late, more than 6 months from onset of symptoms. Saucerization, curettage and sequestrectomy were the commonest surgical intervention done; as types III and IV [Cierny Mader] chronic osteomyelitis prevailed over the others. The duration of parenteral (intravenous) antibiotics usage was within 72 hours in most of the patients; with oral antibiotic continued for about 48 weeks in most of the patients. Most of the patients had stopped discharging at 12 weeks of follow-up and showed clinical evidence of arrest of the infection.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Following adequate surgical debridement in chronic osteomyelitis, short term sensitivity based intravenous antibiotics for 48-72 hours and subsequent oral antibiotics for a variable period of 48 weeks is adequate treatment for chronic osteomyelitis in a non-immuno compromised patient.
authors.affiliation: National Orthopaedic Hospital, Enugu, Nigeria. drgoeyichs@yahoo.com
authors.forename: G O
authors.initials: GO
authors.lastname: Eyichukwu
authors.forename: U E
authors.initials: UE
authors.lastname: Anyaehie
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D003646:Debridement; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008875:Middle Aged; D010019:Osteomyelitis / Q000628:therapy*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents