Osteomyelitis In Diabetic Patients Research Articles

Single-stage management of Charcot neuroarthropathy and osteomyelitis in diabetic patients

Objective: Describe our experience treating Charcot neuroarthropathy (CN) coexisting with concurrent bone infection in a single step, treated with external fixation, and report the mid-term radiographic and functional outcomes. Methods: Retrospective case series of patients diagnosed with CN and osteomyelitis treated with a single-step approach consisting of necrotic bone debridement and fusion extended over the affected joints using a circular external fixator with a minimum of 18 months of follow-up. Results: Six patients were evaluated, and three patients achieved excellent results and were able to walk outside their homes. One of them required a below-the-knee amputation due to persistent infection. Two patients had good results according to the Pinzur proposed evaluation scheme. All patients agreed that they would choose the reconstruction process for their deformity over an infrapatellar amputation. Conclusion: We believe the results from our case series apply to the previously published literature on this therapeutic modality. Level of evidence IV; Case series.

Magnetic Resonance Imaging and 99Tc WBC-SPECT/CT Scanning in Differential Diagnosis between Osteomyelitis and Charcot Neuroarthropathy: A Case Series.

Distinguishing between Charcot Neuroarthropathy (CN), osteomyelitis (OM), and CN complicated with superimposed OM in diabetic patients is crucial for the treatment choice. Given that current diagnostic methods lack specificity, advanced techniques, e.g., magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and 99mTc-HMPAO-WBC Single Photon Emission Computed Tomography (SPECT/CT), are needed. This study addresses the challenges in distinguishing OM and CN. We included diabetic patients with CN and soft tissue ulceration. MRI and 99mTc-HMPAO-WBC SPECT/CT were used for the diagnosis. The patients were classified into three probability levels for OM (i.e., Definite, Probable, and Unlikely) according to the Consensus Criteria for Diabetic Foot Osteomyelitis (CC-DFO). Eight patients met the eligibility criteria. MRI, supported by SPECT-CT and CC-DFO, showed consistency with the OM diagnosis in three cases. The key diagnostic features included the location of signal abnormalities and secondary features such as skin ulcers, sinus tracts, and abscesses. Notably, cases with inconclusive MRI were clarified by SPECT/CT, emphasizing its efficacy in challenging scenarios. The primary objective of this study was to compare the results of MRI and 99mTc-HMPAO-WBC SPECT/CT with the CC-DFO score in the diabetic foot with CN and suspected OM. Advanced imaging offers a complementary approach to distinguish between CN and OM. This can help delineate the limits of the disease for presurgical planning. While MRI is valuable, 99mTc-HMPAO-WBC SPECT/CT provides additional clarity, especially in challenging cases or when metallic implants affect MRI accuracy.

IDF23-0189 Big toe osteomyelitis in Diabetic patients: is amputation mandatory

IDF23-0189 Big toe osteomyelitis in Diabetic patients: is amputation mandatory

974. Correlation of Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) and Bone Histopathology in the Diagnosis of Foot Osteomyelitis in Diabetic Patients.

Abstract Background Inaccurate diagnosis of osteomyelitis (OM) in the setting of foot infection may lead to inappropriate therapy. Recommended imaging to discern OM is magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), but studies have shown varied sensitivity and specificity. The goal of our study is to determine the accuracy of MRI by comparing with bone biopsy histopathology. Methods Retrospective chart review of adult patients with diabetes mellitus and foot infection with concern for OM. They had MRI with contrast and subsequent bone biopsy, resection or amputation with histologic examination. A second, blinded musculoskeletal radiologist reviewed all reports in which there was diagnostic uncertainty. Exclusion criteria: foot tumor or recent foot surgery or injury. Results 63 eligible patients with 87 episodes of foot infection (50 males, 13 females, mean age 55 years) met study criteria. Time gap between biopsy and MRI was mean 6 days (range 0 to 23 days). 72 MRIs were positive (including 7 highly suspicious MRI reads), 11 negative and 4 indeterminate. 53 of the histologic results were positive for OM and 34 were negative. Two scenarios were created by placing 4 indeterminate MRI reads as positive in scenario 1 and negative in scenario 2. In scenario 1, there was only 1 false negative MRI but 24 false positives. In scenario 2, there were 2 false negative MRI and 21 false positives. Out of 74 bone specimens of those not on recent antimicrobial therapy, bone cultures were positive for pathogenic organisms on 22 specimens without histologic evidence of OM. Conclusion In both the above scenarios, sensitivity was high. Specificity was found to be lower than the reported specificity of MRI in the diagnosis of diabetic foot OM, which has been reported as 40% to 100%. Our data demonstrate that MRI is useful to rule out OM if negative but performs poorly in ruling in OM. Bone specimen for histopathology is essential to confirm the diagnosis. Bone culture is helpful to guide antimicrobial therapy rather than diagnosing OM. Prospective studies are warranted. Disclosures All Authors: No reported disclosures.

Amputation versus Primary Nonoperative Management of Chronic Osteomyelitis Involving a Pedal Digit in Diabetic Patients.

The preferred primary treatment of toe osteomyelitis in diabetic patients is controversial. We compared the outcome of primary nonoperative antibiotic treatment versus digital amputation in patients with diabetes-related chronic digital osteomyelitis. We conducted a retrospective medical record review of patients treated for digital osteomyelitis at a single center. Patients were divided into two groups according to initial treatment: 1) nonoperative treatment with intravenous antibiotics and 2) amputation of the involved toe or ray. Duration of hospitalization, number of rehospitalizations, and rate of below- or above-the-knee major amputations were evaluated. The nonoperative group comprised 39 patients and the operative group included 21 patients. The mean ± SD total duration of hospitalization was 24.05 ± 15.43 and 20.67 ± 15.97 days, respectively (P = .43). The mean ± SD number of rehospitalizations after infection recurrence was 2.62 ± 1.63 and 1.67 ± 1.24, respectively (P = .02). During follow-up, the involved digit was eventually amputated in 13 of the 39 nonoperatively treated patients (33.3%). The rate of major amputation (above- or below-knee amputation was four of 39 (10.3%) and three of 21 (14.3%), respectively (P = .69). Despite a higher rate of rehospitalizations and a high failure rate, in patients with mild and limited digital foot osteomyelitis in the absence of sepsis it may be reasonable to offer a primary nonoperative treatment for digital osteomyelitis of the foot.

Diagnostic value of procalcitonin, erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), quantitative C-reactive protein (CRP) and clinical findings associated with osteomyelitis in patients with diabetic foot.

The diagnosis of osteomyelitis is a key step of diabetic foot management. Procalcitonin (PCT) is a novel infection marker. This study aimed to investigate the diagnostic value of procalcitonin and other conventional infection markers and clinical findings in diagnosis of osteomyelitis in diabetic foot patients. This diagnostic value study was carried out on ninety patients with diabetic infected foot ulcers admitted in Kashan Beheshti Hospital, 2016. After obtaining consent, 10 cc blood sample was taken for measuring serum PCT, CBC, ESR, CRP and FBS. Clinical characteristics of the wounds were noted. Magnetic resonance imaging of the foot was performed in all patients to diagnose osteomyelitis. All statistical analyses were done with the use of SPSS-16. PCT levels were 0.13 ± 0.02 ng/mili patients with osteomyelitis (n= 45) and 0.04 ± 0.02 ng/ml in patients without osteomyelitis (n= 45). PCT, Erythrocyte sedimentation rate and C-reactive protein was found significantly higher in patients with osteomyelitis (p< 0.001). The ROC curve was calculated for PCT. The area under the ROC curve for infection identification was 1 (p< 0.001). The best cut-off value for PCT was 0.085 ng/ml. Sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive values were 100%, 97.8%,97.8% and 100%, respectively. In this group of patients, PCT was useful to discriminate patients with bone infection. Also, Erythrocyte sedimentation rate and C-reactive protein can be used as a marker of osteomyelitis in diabetic patients.

Presence of Sensory Neuropathy Modifies the Predictive Value of Inflammatory Biomarkers for Osteomyelitis in Diabetic and Non-Diabetic Patients with Foot Infections

To investigate the predictive value of erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) and C-reactive protein (CRP) in persons with and without diabetes with osteomyelitis (OM). We evaluated 455 patients in a retrospective cohort study of patients admitted to the hospital with diabetic foot OM (n = 177), diabetic foot soft-tissue infections (STIs) (n = 176), nondiabetic OM (n = 51), and nondiabetic STIs (n = 51). Infection diagnosis was determined through bone culture, histopathologic examination for OM, and/or imaging (magnetic resonance imaging/single-photon emission computed tomography) for STI. The optimal cutoff values of ESR and CRP in predicting OM were determined by receiver operating characteristic curve analysis. Sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values, and positive and negative likelihood ratios were determined through contingency tables. In persons without diabetes with STI or OM, the mean ESR and CRP differences were 10.0 mm/h and 2.6 mg/dL, respectively. In contrast, persons with diabetes had higher levels of each: 24.8 mm/h and 6.8 mg/dL, respectively. As a result, ESR and CRP predicted OM better in patients with diabetes. However, when patients were stratified by neuropathy status, ESR remained predictive of OM in diabetic patients with neuropathy (75% sensitivity, 58% specificity) but not in diabetic patients without neuropathy (50% sensitivity, 44% specificity). Also, CRP remained predictive irrespective of neuropathy status. A similar trend was observed in patients without diabetes. Previous studies have reported that ESR and CRP are predictive of OM. However, this study suggests that neuropathy influences the predictive value of inflammatory biomarkers. The underlying mechanisms require further study.

Interventions in the management of infection in the foot in diabetes: a systematic review.

The optimal approaches to managing diabetic foot infections remain a challenge for clinicians. Despite an exponential rise in publications investigating different treatment strategies, the various agents studied generally produce comparable results, and high-quality data are scarce. In this systematic review, we searched the medical literature using the PubMed and Embase databases for published studies on the treatment of diabetic foot infections as of June 2018. This systematic review is an update of previous reviews, the first of which was undertaken in 2010 and the most recent in 2014, by the infection committee of the International Working Group of the Diabetic Foot. We defined the context of literature by formulating clinical questions of interest, then developing structured clinical questions (PICOs) to address these. We only included data from controlled studies of an intervention to prevent or cure a diabetic foot infection. Two independent reviewers selected articles for inclusion and then assessed their relevant outcomes and the methodological quality. Our literature search identified a total of 15 327 articles, of which we selected 48 for full-text review; we added five more studies discovered by means other than the systematic literature search. Among these selected articles were 11 high-quality studies published in the last 4 years and two Cochrane systematic reviews. Overall, the outcomes in patients treated with the different antibiotic regimens for both skin and soft tissue infection and osteomyelitis of the diabetic foot were broadly equivalent across studies, except that treatment with tigecycline was inferior to ertapenem (±vancomycin). Similar outcomes were also reported in studies comparing primarily surgical and predominantly antibiotic treatment strategies in selected patients with diabetic foot osteomyelitis. There is insufficient high-quality evidence to assess the effect of various adjunctive therapies, such as negative pressure wound therapy, topical ointments or hyperbaric oxygen, on infection related outcomes of the diabetic foot. In general, the quality of more recent trial designs are better in past years, but there is still a great need for further well-designed trials to produce higher quality evidence to underpin our recommendations.

An ounce of caution: Superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticle based magnetic resonance imaging contrast–associated anaphylaxis

Superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles are increasingly used alternatives to gadolinium-based magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) contrast agents in the diagnosis of osteomyelitis in diabetic patients with renal failure. 1 Neuwelt A. Langsjoen J. Byrd T. et al. Ferumoxytol negatively enhances T2 -weighted MRI of pedal osteomyelitis in vivo. J Magn Reson Imaging. 2017; 45: 1241-1245 Crossref PubMed Scopus (6) Google Scholar Ferumoxytol is approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration and the European Medicines Agency for intravenous use for iron replacement therapy. 1 Neuwelt A. Langsjoen J. Byrd T. et al. Ferumoxytol negatively enhances T2 -weighted MRI of pedal osteomyelitis in vivo. J Magn Reson Imaging. 2017; 45: 1241-1245 Crossref PubMed Scopus (6) Google Scholar , 2 Nguyen K.L. Yoshida T. Han F. et al. MRI with ferumoxytol: a single center experience of safety across the age spectrum. J Magn Reson Imaging. 2017; 45: 804-812 Crossref PubMed Scopus (36) Google Scholar , 3 Muehe A.M. Feng D. von Eyben R. et al. Safety report of ferumoxytol for magnetic resonance imaging in children and young adults. Invest Radiol. 2016; 51: 221-227 Crossref PubMed Scopus (58) Google Scholar Ferumoxytol is composed of an iron–carbohydrate complex that minimizes dissociation and appearance of free iron into the serum. This stability allows the drug to be given in relatively large doses at rapid infusion rates while lowering the potential for immunogenic reactions as seen in low-molecular-weight iron dextran. 4 Pai A.B. Garba A.O. Ferumoxytol: a silver lining in the treatment of anemia of chronic kidney disease or another dark cloud?. J Blood Med. 2012; 3: 77-85 PubMed Google Scholar However, recent reports of severe hypersensitivity reactions have raised concern regarding its safety—these data led to a United States Food and Drug Administration–issued Black Box warning in 2015 for the risk of potentially fatal hypersensitivity reactions. 2 Nguyen K.L. Yoshida T. Han F. et al. MRI with ferumoxytol: a single center experience of safety across the age spectrum. J Magn Reson Imaging. 2017; 45: 804-812 Crossref PubMed Scopus (36) Google Scholar , 5 Varallyay C.G. Toth G.B. Fu R. et al. What does the boxed warning tell us? Safe practice of using ferumoxytol as an MRI contrast agent. AJNR. 2017; 38: 1297-1302 Crossref PubMed Scopus (36) Google Scholar We report a rare, life-threatening immediate hypersensitivity reaction potentially related to ferumoxytol MRI contrast agent.

Toe ulcers and early diagnosis of osteomyelitis in diabetic patients

Category: Diabetes Introduction/Purpose: Neuropathy and Peripheral arterial disease are the main causes of diabetic foot ulcers. Toes are the most frequent location. Osteomyelitis diagnosis of foot ulcers is still controversial, mainly in ulcers without bone exposure. Although MRI has 90% sensitivity and 85% specificity for osteomyelitis diagnosis, it is not usually used for early detection of bone changes, due to lack of availability and high cost. Bone biopsy puncture is considered the gold standard methodology together with microbiological and histological examinations, but it is not always available in all practices. The purpose of this study was to describe the diagnosis in forefoot ulcers found in diabetic patients using MRI and bone biopsy puncture. Methods: This is a retrospective study, a case series. Clinical records of patients with injuries limited to toes between January 2013 and December 2015 were analyzed. The inclusion criteria were: patients with Diabetes Mellitus (DM) diagnosis and with a grade 1 or 2 digital ulcer according to Wagner’s classification for at least 3 weeks, with visible bone edema in the magnetic resonance (MRI) and those with a bone biopsy performed, and with a minimum follow–up of a year. Patients with diabetic foot ulcers were evaluated by an interdisciplinary team. Laboratory standards were evaluated preoperative and during antibiotic therapy. The surgical bone biopsy was performed by a foot and ankle surgeon with experience in Diabetic foot pathologies. Microbiological and histological study was analyzed. We also recorded the demographic data and identified the patients who had received previous empiric antibiotic therapy. Statistical analysis was performed. Results: Thirty patients out of 93 patients fulfilled inclusion criteria between January 2013 and December 2015. Eleven patients had grade 1 ulcers and 19 grade 2. Twenty-two patients (73.3%) got bone biopsies with positive cultures and 14 (63,3%) had a positive pathological anatomy. Eight patients got negative cultures and pathology. Six patients that did not received empiric antibiotic therapy and 19 patients out of 24 who had received empiric antibiotics had positive cultures. Mean healing time for patients who did not had antibiotics was 4 weeks (3-12) and for the group who received empiric antibiotics was 6 weeks (4-10/) Only 4 patients out of 19 patients with Wagner II ulcers had the toe amputated. Conclusion: A precise diagnosis of the germ was obtained in 73.3% of the patients and a specific antibiotic treatment was completed. Although empiric antibiotic therapy 19 out of 24 patients had positive bone cultures and healing time was longer. Amputation index was 13%, all of them were grade 2 ulcers. There were no major amputations. We consider that in these kind of ulcers that had more than 3 weeks without healing and had no radiographic changes, MRI can show bone edema. Surgical bone biopsy should be done to begin specific antibiotic therapy and improve healing time.

Microbiologic and histopathological findings of osteomyelitis in diabetic patients

Osteomyelitis can present as a severe complication in diabetic patients. The present study was structured to evaluate the histopathological characteristics of bone infection in the feet of diabetic patients and to associate any clinical variables seen with each type of bone infection. Eighty-four cases of osteomyelitis were evaluated microbiologically and histopathologically after samples were collected under sterile conditions in an operating room. The data generated were analysed using SPSS software. Polymorphonuclear neutrophil (PMN) infiltrates were associated with acute osteomyelitis (AO) (22 cases (26.2%)) and chronic acute osteomyelitis (CAO) (10 cases (11.9%)), whereas a strong association was observed between mononuclear infiltrates and chronic osteomyelitis (CO) (33 cases (39.3%)) and fibrosis (19 cases (22.6%)). Ulcer longevity on hospital admission varied for each condition: AO (10.9 + 22 weeks), CO (29.1 + 20.6 weeks), CAO (31.5 + 22.2 weeks) and fibrosis (30.5 + 23 weeks) (P < 0.05) (values expressed as mean + SD). The same was true for the presence of pathogenic bacteria: AO (16/22, 72.7%), CO (27/33, 81.8%), CAO (7/10, 70%) and fibrosis (16/19, 84.2%). There was significant correlation between histopathological features and presence of bacteria and longevity of the ulcer on presentation (P < 0.05). Osteomyelitis in the feet of diabetic patients should be classified as four specific but interlinked groups: acute, chronic, acute on chronic and fibrosis.

Septic Arthritis and Osteomyelitis

Septic arthritis is an inflammatory condition within the joint in reaction to bacterial infection in the joint space. Emergent diagnosis and initiation of therapy are necessary to prevent joint destruction and, in some cases, serious systemic illness. This review covers the epidemiology, assessment and stabilization, diagnosis, treatment and disposition, and outcomes of septic arthritis. Figures show the pathophysiology of bone infection; an algorithm for the initial evaluation and management of a suspected septic joint; a magnetic resonance image of vertebral body osteomyelitis; a cutaneous sinus in a patient with underlying chronic posttraumatic osteomyelitis at the site of a previous tibial fracture; the probe-to-bone test for diagnosing osteomyelitis in the diabetic foot; an algorithm for the initial evaluation and management of suspected vertebral body osteomyelitis; nonsurgical treatment of osteomyelitis of the foot in a patient with diabetes; and algorithms for the evaluation and management of osteomyelitis in diabetic patients with neuropathic ulcers and no or mild foot infection, osteomyelitis in diabetic patients with neuropathic ulcers and moderate or severe foot infection, and chronic posttraumatic osteomyelitis. Tables list supportive findings for diagnosis of chronic osteomyelitis, risk factors for the development of septic arthritis in patients with underlying joint disease, microbiology in septic arthritis, empirical antibiotic therapy for septic arthritis, microbiology in vertebral osteomyelitis, antibiotic therapy for vertebral osteomyelitis awaiting culture results, representative studies with likelihood ratios for diagnostic tests used in the evaluation of native joint septic arthritis, antibiotic therapy for vertebral osteomyelitis with unknown or established microbiology, and antibiotic therapy for diabetic pedal osteomyelitis with unknown or established microbiology. Key words: osteomyelitis, probe-to-bone test, septic arthritis, septic joint, vertebral osteomyelitis This review contains 10 highly rendered figures, 9 tables, and 110 references.

Mild-to-moderate hyperglycemia will not decrease the sensitivity of 18F-FDG PET imaging in the detection of pedal osteomyelitis in diabetic patients.

Pedal osteomyelitis is a worrisome complication of diabetic foot disease. Controlling serum glucose levels is difficult for many diabetic patients. High serum glucose levels could potentially affect the results of fluorine-18 fluorodeoxyglucose (18F-FDG) PET imaging in the detection of osteomyelitis. The aim of this investigation was to determine whether high serum glucose levels diminish the diagnostic accuracy of 18F-FDG PET imaging in detecting pedal osteomyelitis in diabetic patients. Forty-eight consecutive diabetic patients with a suspicion of pedal osteomyelitis were included in this investigation. At the time of 18F-FDG administration, 21 patients had serum glucose levels less than 150 mg/dl (group A), and 27 had serum glucose levels greater than 150 mg/dl (group B). Results of PET imaging were compared with final diagnostic outcome based on histopathology and/or 12 months' clinical follow-up. Osteomyelitis was confirmed in 17 patients. 18F-FDG PET correctly detected osteomyelitis in 15 of 17 patients for a sensitivity of 88.3% (15/17). This technique successfully excluded osteomyelitis in 30 of 31 cases for a specificity of 96.8% (30/31) and an overall accuracy of 93.8% (45/48). The sensitivity of 18F-FDG PET imaging was 87.5% (7/8) in patients with serum glucose levels less than 150 mg/dl (group A) and 88.9% (8/9) in patients with serum glucose levels greater than 150 mg/dl (group B). These results do not significantly differ from the overall sensitivity of 88.3% (15/17). Mildly to moderately elevated serum glucose levels do not adversely affect the accuracy of 18F-FDG PET imaging in the detection of pedal osteomyelitis in diabetic patients.

Interventions in the management of infection in the foot in diabetes: a systematic review.

The expert panel on diabetic foot infection (DFI) of the International Working Group on the Diabetic Foot conducted a systematic review seeking all published reports relating to any type of treatment for infection of the foot in persons with diabetes published as of 30 June 2014. This review, conducted with both PubMed and EMBASE, was used to update an earlier one undertaken on 30 June 2010 using the same search string. Eligible publications included those that had outcome measures reported for both a treated and a control population that were managed either at the same time, or as part of a before-and-after case design. We did not include studies that contained only information related to definition or diagnosis, but not treatment, of DFI. The current search identified just seven new articles meeting our criteria that were published since the 33 identified with the previous search, making a total of 40 articles from the world literature. The identified articles included 37 randomised controlled trials (RCTs) and three cohort studies with concurrent controls, and included studies on the use of surgical procedures, topical antiseptics, negative pressure wound therapy and hyperbaric oxygen. Among the studies were 15 RCTs that compared outcomes of treatment with new antibiotic preparations compared with a conventional therapy in the management of skin and soft tissue infection. In addition, 10 RCTs and 1 cohort study compared different treatments for osteomyelitis in the diabetic foot. Results of comparisons of different antibiotic regimens generally demonstrated that newly introduced antibiotic regimens appeared to be as effective as conventional therapy (and also more cost-effective in one study), but one study failed to demonstrate non-inferiority of a new antibiotic compared with that of a standard agent. Overall, the available literature was both limited in both the number of studies and the quality of their design. Thus, our systematic review revealed little evidence upon which to make recommendations for treatment of DFIs. There is a great need for further well-designed trials that will provide robust data upon which to make decisions about the most appropriate treatment of both skin and soft tissue infection and osteomyelitis in diabetic patients.

Conservative Surgical Treatment of Infected Ulceration of the First Metatarsophalangeal Joint With Osteomyelitis in Diabetic Patients

Ulceration of the plantar aspect of the first metatarsophalangeal joint is a common localization in the diabetic foot. Conservative treatment of this lesion is a challenging problem, performed through the soft tissues and osseous debridement. The present study included a cohort of 28 patients affected by diabetes mellitus and a first ray lesion penetrating the bone. After surgical debridement with removal of the infected bone, we positioned antibiotic-loaded bone cement and stabilized the treated area with an external fixator. All patients with critical limb ischemia had their vascular disease treated before the procedure. The mean follow-up was 12.2 ± 6.9 months. Four patients developed a relapse of the ulceration after the procedure. In the postoperative period, 1 patient (3.57%) developed dehiscence of the surgical site and underwent a second procedure. In the follow-up period, 2 patients (7.14%) experienced bone cement dislocation. In 1 of these patients, a new ulceration was observed dorsally to the surgical site. The approach was surgical revision with bone cement replacement and stabilization with a new external fixator. In the other patient, given the absence of ulcerations, the cement was removed, and arthrodesis with internal stabilization using 2 cannulated screws was performed. One patient (3.57%), who had developed a relapse of ulceration after recurrent critical ischemia, underwent a percutaneous revascularization procedure and transmetatarsal amputation. During the follow-up period, no ulceration recurrences, transfer ulcerations, shoe fit problems, or gait abnormalities were detected in the other 24 patients. Our study presents the results of a technique requiring a 1-stage surgical approach to a relatively common problem, which is often difficult to solve.

Osteomielitis de pie diabético: ¿es posible un manejo conservador?

IntroductionThe aim of the present study is to determine the proportion of foot ulcers, complicated by osteomyelitis in diabetic patients, that heal without amputation. Furthermore, an attempt is made to analyze the main clinical and microbiological characteristics of episodes, and to identify potential predictive factors leading to the failure of conservative treatment. MethodsA prospective observational study was carried out between 2007 and 2009 on diabetic patients with a foot lesion and attending a diabetic foot clinic. A percutaneous bone biopsy was required to be included in the study. ResultsA total of 81 episodes of diabetic foot osteomyelitis in 64 patients were evaluated. Staphylococcus aureus (28/81) and coagulase negative Staphylococcus (22/81) were the most frequent organisms isolated. Among the gramnegative group (34/81), non-fermenting gram negative bacteria were the most prevalent organisms isolated (14/81). Conservative treatment was successful in 73% of episodes. After a logistic regression analysis using the most significant prognostic variables, only lesion size greater than 2cm independently predicted failure of conservative treatment. Culture guided antibiotic treatment was associated with a better prognosis. ConclusionConservative treatment, including culture-guided antibiotics, is successful without amputation in a large proportion of diabetic patients with diabetic foot osteomyelitis. Considering empiric therapy directed at non-fermenting gramnegative bacteria could be advisable in some cases, because they are frequently isolated in our setting.

Histology versus Microbiology for Accuracy in Identification of Osteomyelitis in the Diabetic Foot

It is important to accurately diagnose osteomyelitis, and bone biopsy is currently considered by many to be the gold standard diagnostic test for its identification. Microbiologic studies, namely culture and sensitivity tests, are also used to identify osteomyelitis. To our knowledge, no published reports exist that compare the diagnostic characteristics of bone biopsy to microbiology with regard to making the diagnosis of osteomyelitis. For these reasons, we undertook a matched case control study to test the null hypothesis that claimed there is no difference between histology and microbiology with regard to making the diagnosis of pedal osteomyelitis in diabetic patients. The sample population consisted of consecutive diabetic patients from a tertiary care hospital who were surgically treated for foot infection with suspected osteomyelitis. Each bone specimen was hemisected, and one half sent for microbiologic testing and the other half sent for histopathologic inspection. McNemar’s test for correlated proportions was used to identify whether or not a statistically significant difference existed between the diagnostic methods. A total of 44 specimens were analyzed, and our results showed that a positive microbiologic and negative histologic result was just as likely as a negative microbiologic and positive histologic result ( P > .05). In conclusion, based on the results of this investigation, microbiologic testing performed as well as did histopathologic testing when it came to identifying the presence of pedal osteomyelitis in the diabetic foot.

Microbiology culture results in high risk foot clinic patients: an audit

Background The majority of the clinical work of a high risk foot service is involved in the care of patients with diabetic foot ulcers. Infection is common, with the percentage of patients in a session receiving antibiotics ranging from 50-100%. We conducted an audit of microbiology culture results for our patients over a one-year period. Methods Three reviewers extracted all microbiology results for all patients who had a current foot progress chart and who had been attending the high risk foot unit at Liverpool Hospital from the period of 15 September 2009 to 15 September 2010. The results were collated and entered into an Excel © spread sheet. Fields included wound location, microbes, colonisation, and antibiotic susceptibility. Results The total number of patients fitting the selection criteria was 131. The most common finding was coliform colonisation, in 83 patients (63.4%), followed by staphylococcus aureus, in 57 patients (43.5%), MRSA, in 21 patients (16%), and streptococcus (Group A, B, C, G) in 14 patients (10%). Less common organisms included acinetobacter baumanii, and klebsiella oxytoca. Conclusions The high incidence of MRSA in our patient population is of concern, especially as the choice of antibiotics available to treat infections with this organism is slowly becoming reduced. Major areas of lack of knowledge in the care of patients with foot ulceration include the optimal duration of antibiotic treatment, both oral and parenteral, for infected ulcers and osteomyelitis in diabetic patients.

Surgical management of a diabetic calcaneal ulceration and osteomyelitis with a partial calcanectomy and a sural neurofasciocutaneous flap

The treatment of calcaneal osteomyelitis in diabetic patients poses a great challenge to the treating physician and surgeon. The use of a distally based sural neurofasciocutaneous flap after an aggressive debridement of non-viable and poorly vascularized tissue and bone that is combined with a thorough antibiotic regimen provides a great technique for adequate soft tissue coverage of the heel. In this case report, the authors describe the aforementioned flap as a versatile alternative to the use of local or distant muscle flaps for diabetic patients with calcaneal osteomyelitis and concomitant large wounds.

Diagnostic Accuracy of the Physical Examination and Imaging Tests for Osteomyelitis Underlying Diabetic Foot Ulcers: Meta‐Analysis

Accurate diagnosis of osteomyelitis underlying diabetic foot ulcers is essential to optimize outcomes. We undertook a meta-analysis of the accuracy of diagnostic tests for osteomyelitis in diabetic patients with foot ulcers. Pooled sensitivity and specificity, the summary measure of accuracy (Q*), and diagnostic odds ratio were calculated. Exposed bone or probe-to-bone test had a sensitivity of 0.60 and a specificity of 0.91. Plain radiography had a sensitivity of 0.54 and a specificity of 0.68. MRI had a sensitivity of 0.90 and a specificity of 0.79. Bone scan was found to have a sensitivity of 0.81 and a specificity of 0.28. Leukocyte scan was found to have a sensitivity of 0.74 and a specificity of 0.68. The diagnostic odds ratios for clinical examination, radiography, MRI, bone scan, and leukocyte scan were 49.45, 2.84, 24.36, 2.10, and 10.07, respectively. The presence of exposed bone or a positive probe-to-bone test result is moderately predictive of osteomyelitis. MRI is the most accurate imaging test for diagnosis of osteomyelitis.