title: A modified staging system for chronic osteomyelitis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the short-term outcome of treatment of chronic osteomyelitis where management was based on a refined host stratification system.
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective review of 109 adult patients with chronic osteomyelitis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  At a minimum follow-up of 12 months (range 12-36) we observed an overall success rate of 89.9% (95% CI: 82.7-94.9%). There was no statistically significant difference in success rates by host status (p-value = 0.201).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  By integrating the redefined host status and treatment strategy, we were able to achieve comparable short-term outcomes in both low and high-risk cases while maintaining a low rate of amputation.
authors.affiliation: Tumour, Sepsis and Reconstruction Unit, Department of Orthopaedics, School of Clinical Medicine, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Grey's Hospital, Pietermaritzburg, 3201, South Africa.
authors.forename: Leonard Charles
authors.initials: LC
authors.lastname: Marais
authors.affiliation: Tumour, Sepsis and Reconstruction Unit, Department of Orthopaedics, School of Clinical Medicine, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Grey's Hospital, Pietermaritzburg, 3201, South Africa.
authors.forename: Nando
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Ferreira
authors.affiliation: School of Clinical Medicine, College of Health Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, 4013, South Africa.
authors.forename: Colleen
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Aldous
authors.affiliation: Public Health Medicine, School of Nursing and Public Health, College of Health Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Howard College Campus, Durban, 4041, South Africa.
authors.forename: Benn
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Sartorius
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedics, University of Pretoria, I Military Hospital, Pretoria, 0187, South Africa.
authors.forename: Theo
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Le Roux
keywords: Chronic; Classification; HIV; Management; Osteomyelitis