title: [Classification of haematogenous and post-traumatic osteomyelitis].
abstract: A classification of osteomyelitis must reflect the complexity of the disease and, moreover, provide conclusions for the treatment. The classification is based on the following eight parameters: source of infection (OM [osteomyelitis]/OT [post-traumatic OM]), anatomic region, stability of affected bone (continuity of bone), foreign material (internal fixation, prosthesis), range of infection (involved structures), activity of infection (acute, chronic, quiescent), causative microbes (unspecific and specific bacteria, fungi) and comorbidity (immunosuppressive diseases, general and local). In the long version of the classification, which was designed for scientific studies, the parameters are named by capital letters and specified by Arabic numbers, e.g., an acute, haematogenous osteomyelitis of a femur in an adolescent with diabetes mellitus, caused by Staphylococcus aureus, multi-sensible is coded as: OM2 Lo33 S1a M1 In1d Aa1 Ba2a K2a. The letters and numbers can be found in clearly arranged tables or calculated by a freely available grouper on the internet (www.osteomyelitis.exquit.net). An equally composed compact version of the classification for clinical use includes all eight parameters, but without further specification. The above-mentioned example in the compact version is: OM 3 S a Ba2 K2. The short version of the classification uses only the first six parameters and excludes causative microbes and comorbidity. The above mentioned example in the short version is: OM 3 S a. The long version of the classification describes an osteomyelitis in every detail. The complexity of the patient's disease is clearly reproducible and can be used for scientific comparisons. The for clinical use suggested compact and short versions of the classification include all important characteristics of an osteomyelitis, can be composed quickly and distinctly with the help of tables and provide conclusions for the individual treatment. The freely available grouper (www.osteomyelitis.exquit.net) creates all three versions of the classification in one step.
authors.affiliation: Septische Knochen- u. Weichteilchirurgie, Schön Klinik Hamburg-Eilbek.
authors.forename: H G K
authors.initials: HG
authors.lastname: Schmidt
authors.affiliation: Septische Knochen- u. Weichteilchirurgie, Schön Klinik Hamburg-Eilbek.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Diefenbeck
authors.affiliation: Zentrum f. Histologie, Zytologie u. Molekulare Diagnostik, Pathologie Trier.
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Krenn
authors.affiliation: Klinik f. spezialisierte septische Chirurgie, Traumazentrum, Sankt Georg Klinikum, Leipzig.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Abitzsch
authors.affiliation: Septische Chirurgie, BG Unfallklinik Murnau.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Militz
authors.affiliation: Septische u. rekonstruktive Chirurgie, BG-Klinik Halle.
authors.forename: A H
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: Tiemann
authors.affiliation: Septische Knochen- u. Weichteilchirurgie, Schön Klinik Hamburg-Eilbek.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Haustedt
authors.affiliation: Software, exquIT GmbH, München.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Gückel
authors.affiliation: Septische Unfallchirurgie u. Orthopädie, Klinikum Ingolstadt.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bühler
authors.affiliation: Septische Unfallchirugie u. Orthopädie, BG-Unfallkrankenhaus Hamburg.
authors.forename: U-J
authors.initials: UJ
authors.lastname: Gerlach
mesh_terms: D016470:Bacteremia / Q000145:classification* / Q000150:complications*; D050723:Fractures, Bone / Q000145:classification* / Q000150:complications*; D016469:Fungemia / Q000145:classification* / Q000150:complications*; D006801:Humans; D010000:Osteitis / Q000145:classification* / Q000209:etiology*; D010019:Osteomyelitis / Q000145:classification* / Q000209:etiology*; D014946:Wound Infection / Q000145:classification* / Q000150:complications*