English

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: In developing country the incidence of chronic pyogenic infection of long bone is high among children and adults. This entity is difficult to be managed by conventional systemic antibiotics alone. Many treatment methods for long bone osteomyelitis were attempted but unfortunately the eradication of chronic osteomyelitis remains a problem. Local antibiotic therapy has been introduced by arthroplasty surgeons and subsequently this method has been tried for treating chronic osteomyelitis. Treatment of chronic osteomyelitis using antibiotic-impregnated bone cement beads or nail after thorough debridement has become a good option of treatment. Therefore this prospective study has been designed to evaluate the effect of local antibiotic therapy in the form of bone cement beads or nail for eradication of chronic pyogenic long bone osteomyelitis. METHODS: Thirty patients with chronic osteomyelitis of metaphyseal and diaphyseal area of long bones were studied prospectively about outcome of treatment. The diagnosis of chronic osteomyelitis was made on the basis of clinical and radiological features and confirmed by deep aspiration, staining and culture sensitivity of the aspirate. Patients suffering from fungal or tubercular osteomyelitis were excluded. Also the patients with small bones osteomyelitis or open injury more than Gustilo type 2 were excluded. Antibiotic impregnated polymethylmethacrylate beads or nails were implanted after thorough debridement and wound closed primarily. Two dose of intervenous antibiotic were used, one before and another after operation. Beads or nails were removed at the end of six weeks. Patients were followed up for an average period of two years. RESULT: Out of thirty patients in this study, twenty eight patients were cured completely and two patients had persistent discharge till the last follow up visit. No organism found in six cases. No systemic adverse reactions were seen. CONCLUSION: The present study observes that approximately 93% patients were completely free from recurrence in two year follow-up. However, two patients with metaphyseal osteomylitis had persistence discharge probably due to inadequate removal of glycocalyx in the metaphyseal region where the bone tissue is spongy in nature.