title: Antibiotherapy with and without bone debridement in diabetic foot osteomyelitis: A retrospective cohort study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The treatment of diabetic foot osteomyelitis (DFO) is a controversial issue, with disagreement regarding whether the best treatment is surgical or conservative. The purpose of this study was to compare the outcome of patients with DFO who were treated with antibiotherapy alone and those who underwent concurrent minor amputation.
  
  
  METHODS
  Hospital records of patients who were diagnosed as having DFO within a 2-year study period were retrospectively reviewed. Patients were divided into two groups: those who received antibiotherapy alone and those who underwent concurrent minor amputation. Groups were compared in terms of duration in hospitalization, antibiotherapy, and wound healing.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Thirty seven patients were included in the study. These comprised patients who received antibiotherapy alone (ABG, n=15) and patients who underwent concurrent minor amputation (AB-MAG, n=22). Hospitalization duration was 37.2 (± 16.2) days in ABG and 52.8 (± 40.2) days in AB-MAG (p = 0.166). Mean duration of antibiotherapy was 45.0 (± 21.7) days in ABG and 47.7 (± 19) days in AB-MAG (p = 0.689). Wound healing duration was 265.2 (± 132.7) days in ABG and 222.6 (± 85.9) days in AB-MAG (p = 0.243). None of the outcome measures were significantly different between ABG and AB-MAG.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results have shown similar outcomes for both patient groups who received antibiotherapy alone and who underwent concurrent minor amputations. Considering the small sample sizes in this study, it is important to confirm these results on a larger scale.
authors.affiliation: Asim Ulcay, Department of Infectious Diseases and Clinical Microbiology, Gulhane Military Medical Academy, Haydarpasa Teaching Hospital, Uskudar, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Asim
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ulcay
authors.affiliation: Ahmet Karakas, Department of Infectious Diseases and Clinical Microbiology, Gulhane Military Medical Academy and School of Medicine, Etlik, Ankara, Turkey.
authors.forename: Ahmet
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Karakas
authors.affiliation: Mesut Mutluoglu, Department of Underwater and Hyperbaric Medicine, Gulhane Military Medical Academy, Haydarpasa Teaching Hospital, Uskudar, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Mesut
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mutluoglu
authors.affiliation: Gunalp Uzun, Department of Underwater and Hyperbaric Medicine, Gulhane Military Medical Academy, Haydarpasa Teaching Hospital, Uskudar, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Gunalp
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Uzun
authors.affiliation: Vedat Turhan, Department of Infectious Diseases and Clinical Microbiology, Gulhane Military Medical Academy, Haydarpasa Teaching Hospital, Uskudar, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Vedat
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Turhan
authors.affiliation: Hakan Ay, Department of Underwater and Hyperbaric Medicine, Gulhane Military Medical Academy, Haydarpasa Teaching Hospital, Uskudar, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Hakan
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ay
keywords: Amputation; Antibiotics; Diabetic foot infection; Osteomyelitis