A retrospective study was done in 30 patients with infected closed fractures treated initially by open reduction and internal fixation. Nineteen fractures involved the femur, 8 the tibia, 2 the radius and 1 the ulna. Twenty-five were diaphyseal and 5 metaphyseal. Twenty-two fractures had initially been treated with plating and 8 with intramedullary nailing. Thirteen patients presented in the acute phase and 17 in the subacute phase of infection. Twenty-two patients presented with low grade infection and 8 with florid infection. The commonest organism isolated was Staphylococcus aureus (80%), of which fifty four percent was resistant to Methicillin (MRSA). This study showed that 77% of infected fractures with a stable implant united even in the presence of infection.
Infection following grade IIIB open tibial fracture is common. The primary aim of managing this condition is to achieve control of infection before the bone reconstruction procedure is performed. The outcomes for such patients have not been evaluated in the literature. This study was conducted to examine the outcome of a multi-stage procedure for the treatment of infected grade IIIB open tibial fractures.
Melioidosis is caused by an infection by Burkholderia pseudomallei. Osteomyelitis is a recognised manifestation of melioidosis but Burkholderia pseudomallei is a relatively rare aetiological agent in musculoskeletal infections. We report a 32-year-old diabetic man with septicaemia due to melioidotic infection of the spleen, liver and distal femur. The osteomyelitis relapsed despite being treated with the standard radical debridement and insertion of gentamycinimpregnated polymethylmetacrylate (PMMA) beads, followed by an optimal antibiotic therapy. The PMMA-gentamycin beads were then removed. The bone defect was debrided and packed with calcium hydroxyapatite blocks filled with ceftazidime powder. The osteomyelitis was successfully treated and the patient remained free of infection four years postoperatively. Computed tomography demonstrated successful incorporation of the calcium hydroxyapatite into host bone.
Osteomyelitis refers to an infection of the bone characterized by progressive inflammatory destruction caused by infecting microorganism. Open fracture carries the risk of developing osteomyelitis from 3 to 50% with a high amputation rate. Salvage of the limb is always a challenge and needs perseverance. We report the case of a 44-year-old male with chronic osteomyelitis with successful multiple limb salvage surgeries. The curative approach to chronic osteomyelitis has the following goals including arrest of infection, pain reduction and salvage of limb and function. With regard to survival and function, the result obtained in this case is more promising compared to above knee amputation.
Acquired radial clubhand deformity can be a consequence of large bone gap left by premature extensive radius osteomyelitis sequestrectomy. Single-bone forearm reconstruction is a salvage procedure when other motion-preserving techniques are not feasible. Here we present a child who developed radial clubhand deformity after an untimely sequestrectomy of radius diaphysis. In view of limited microsurgical expertise in our centre, single-bone forearm procedure was done utilising simple Kirshner wires to achieve radio-ulnar fusion. The procedure resulted in pain-free stable wrist, restoration of hand function and improved cosmesis.
Klebsiella pneumoniae is one of the leading causative organisms in pyogenic liver disease. It can cause disseminated infections, but rarely to bone, and rarely in healthy hosts. We report an unusual case of a distal humerus fracture from osteomyelitis secondary to dissemination in a non-immuno-compromised patient. The patient was surgically managed with external fixation and insertion of anti-biotic beads, in conjunction with medical therapy via culture direct antibiotics. This report highlights the diagnostic approach and treatment options for these atypical cases.
Pyknodysostosis is a rare sclerosing bone disorder with autosomal recessive mode of inheritance. The condition is characterized by continuous bone deposition without physiological resorption, occurring mainly in the trabecular and not the cortical bone. The skeletal features include short stature, brachycephaly, open cranial sutures and fontanelles, diffuse osteosclerosis and obtuse mandibular angles. Among the oral features observed were grooved or furrowed palate and disturbances in eruption and exfoliation of teeth. Multiple fractures of long bones and osteomyelitis of the jaw are frequent complications. These are attributed to the increased brittleness and reduced vascularity of the bone as a result of continuous endosteal bone deposition. Treatment is usually successful with surgical management and sustained bactericidal antibiotic therapy, although hyperbaric oxygen has been recommended as adjunct treatment in the more refractory form.
Osteomyelitis of the mandible, a serious complication of untreated odontogenic infection has been reported. This case report describes an interesting presentation of chronic suppurative osteomyelitis (CSO) of the mandible in a 13 years old anaemic male patient. Investigations revealed inversion of his permanent teeth leading to trans-cutaneous extra-oral eruption along with marked destruction of mandible on the affected side. The treatment included a pre surgical course of antibiotics followed by the removal of the retained second premolar tooth, surgical debridement of the affected bone, and resection of the cutaneous sinus tract. The post-operative healing was uneventful. A combination of antibiotic therapy and surgical debridement were effective in the treatment of chronic suppurative osteomyelitis.
Aim: This study was designed to evaluate the use of ultrasound in diagnosis of infection and tumour of long bones. Methodology: Patients referred from the orthopaedic unit with doubt regarding long bone clinical and/or radiological signs which could be tumour or infection were enrolled in this study. Analysis of ultrasound characteristics included presence of pericortical fluid over normal cortex well away from the primary lesion, wavy contour sign (fluid tracking in and out muscle planes), subperiosteal fluid and soft tissue mass displacing adjacent muscle planes. Results: Fourteen out of 15 patients with confirmed osteomyelitis were diagnosed by ultrasound examination. Ultrasound as a diagnostic tool has a sensitivity of 93% and specificity of 100%. The most accurate indicator was pericortical fluid noted up to several centimetres from the long bone abnormality seen on plain x-rays. Conclusion: Ultrasound is a safe, fast, cost-effective imaging modality that can play an important role in diagnosis of osteomyelitis as it then serves as a tool for ultrasound guided aspiration.
Percutaneous epiphysiodesis for arresting growth is a useful method for equalising moderate lower limb-length discrepancy. This paper reviews the result of this procedure performed at the Royal Hospital for Sick Children in Glasgowfrom 1989 to 1993. There were 8 children (5 girls and 3 boys) ranging in age (chronological) from 10 years 3 months to 13 years 3 months. Limb-length discrepancies (LLD) at the time of surgery were between 2.5 cm to 5.5 cm. The predicted LLD at maturity was obtained using the Moseleys graph. This ranged from 3.9 cm to 8.3 cm. The cause of discrepancy were hemihypertrophy (5), neurofibromatosis (1), AV malformation (1) and neonatal osteomyelitis (1). Bone age in 3 patients corresponded to their chronological age. In 2 patients their bone age were less than their chronological age by 1 year. In the remaining 3 patients their bone were less than their chronological age by 1 to 3 years. All patients had percutaneous epiphysiodesis of both the distal femur and proximal tibia. All patients except one had afinal LLD of 1 cm or less. There were 2 unsatisfactory results: one girl had a valgus knee due to asymmetric physeal closure. Another boy had a final LLD of 3.3 cm as the procedure was done near skeletal maturity. This technique is useful even with LLD greater than 5 cm in children whose predicted height is above average. The difference between chronological age and bone age ranged from I to 3 years.
It is very rare indeed in the practice of children's orthopaedics today in Malaysia that the natural history of long bone osteomyelitis is seen. A case is presented where a shoulder abscess in a 3-year-old child developed into septic arthritis of the shoulder and subsequently chronic osteomyelitis of the adjacent humerus. The parents refused active surgical debridement and sequestrectomies. Three years later the child had regenerated a new humerus over the sequestra. Radiographs are presented illustrating the entire natural history of osteomyelitis with the regeneration of a new humerus.
We report a case of a human bite that was initially inadequately treated and progressed to chronic osteomyelitis, finally resulting in digital amputation. Human bites are seemingly innocuous, but if neglected, may lead to subsequent infection and morbidity. Persistence of symptoms should alert the practitioner to the possibility of infection extending to the soft tissue or bone. Bacteriological studies commonly yield mixed aerobic and anaerobic flora. Early debridement and antibiotic treatment may prevent development of severe soft tissue or bone infection.
Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) has of late emerged as a cause of community-acquired infections among immunocompetent adults without risk factors. Skin and soft tissue infections represent the majority of community-acquired methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (CA-MRSA) clinical presentations, whilst invasive and life-threatening illness like necrotizing pneumonia, necrotizing fasciitis, pyomyositis, osteomyelitis and sepsis syndrome are less common. Although more widely described in the pediatric age group, the occurrence of CA-MRSA osteomyelitis in adults is an uncommonly reported entity.
Osteomyelitis in children has various clinical manifestations causing diagnostic and therapeutic difficulties. Inappropriate treatment of acute osteomyelitis may lead to chronic, serious and complicated condition. Chronic osteomyelitis continues to be a major cause of morbidity and disability in children living in developing countries. We present three cases of tibial osteomyelitis that have different presentations and sequalae. Our intention is to alert our colleagues, particularly primary physicians, regarding the variety of presentation and the important of early diagnosis and treatment to reduce the risk of morbidity following osteomyelitis.
The results of treatment using a locally-designed external fixator in 20 patients are presented. Open fractures were the main indications for external fixation. Pin tract infection occurred in 8 patients. Only 2 patients had unstable fixation which required removal of the device. One third of patients developed malunion exceeding 15 degrees and two thirds had joint stiffness after conversion to plaster cast. This external fixator is adequate in the treatment of most open fractures of the tibia. However, improved techniques of pin insertion and cast application upon removal of the external fixator may help to reduce the incidence of pin tract infections and malunion.
Sternotomy and sternal closure occur prior to and post cardiac surgery, respectively. Although post-operative complications associated with poor sternal fixation can result in morbidity, mortality, and considerable resource utilization, sternotomy is preferred over other methods such as lateral thoracotomy. Rigid sternal fixation is associated with stability and reduced incidence of post-operative complications. This is a comprehensive review of the literature evaluating in vivo, in vitro, and clinical responses to applying commercial and experimental surgical tools for sternal fixation after median sternotomy. Wiring, interlocking, plate-screw, and cementation techniques have been examined for closure, but none have experienced widespread adoption. Although all techniques have their advantages, serious post-operative complications were associated with the use of wiring and/or plating techniques in high-risk patients. A fraction of studies have analyzed the use of sternal interlocking systems and only a single study analyzed the effect of using kryptonite cement with wires. Plating and interlocking techniques are superior to wiring in terms of stability and reduced rate of post-operative complications; however, further clinical studies and long-term follow-up are required. The ideal sternal closure should ensure stability, reduced rate of post-operative complications, and a short hospitalization period, alongside cost-effectiveness.
Post-traumatic chronic osteomyelitis and infected non-unions of the tibia following severe type-III open fracture are difficult to treat Refractoy cases often necessitate amputation despite attempts to salvage the limb. We report our experience in treating such difficult cases with an alternative surgical option using free osteocutaneous fibular graft. Eight consecutive patients with post-traumatic chronic osteomyelitis/infected non-union were treated surgically with free vascularized osteocutaneous fibular graft. Outcomes in term of graft-host union and complication were evaluated. Four patients had anastomotic venous thrombosis requiring anastomotic revision. Five patients developed surgical site infections needing extended antibiotic therapy to achieve resolution at an average of 15.2 weeks. Fibular graft fracture occurred in three patients but all grafts survived and united after a mean time to union of 42.3 weeks (range 31 to 82 weeks). At the final follow-up, union of host-graft junction and control of infection were achieved in all patients except one who required a secondary amputation. Free vascularized osteo-cutaneous fibular graft is a viable limb salvage option for refractory chronic osteomyelitis or infected non-union following treatment of grade-III open tibial fractures.
Background: Tuberculous disease of spine (spinal TB) is under-recognized in tuberculous (TB) meningitis.
The objective of the study was to evaluate the frequency, clinical and neuroimaging changes, and
outcome in the patients with spinal TB.
Methods: All the patients with spinal TB admitted in the two
largest tertiary hospitals in Kuala Lumpur from 2009 to 2017 were recruited, the clinical features were
documented, the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the spine was performed. Clinical outcome was
assessed with Modified Rankin scale (MRS).
Results: Twenty two patients were recruited. This was
out of 70 TB meningitis patients (31.4%) seen over the same period. Eighteen (81.8%) patients had
concomitant TB meningitis. The clinical features consisted of systemic symptoms with fever (63.6%),
meningitis symptoms with altered sensorium (45.5%), myelopathy with paraparesis (36.4%). The
findings on spinal MRI were discitis (36.4%), spinal meningeal enhancement (31.8%), spinal cord
compression (31.8%), psoas abscess (27.3%), osteomyelitis (22.7%), and cord oedema (22.7%). All
except two patients (90.9%) had involvement in psoas muscle, bone or leptomeningeal enhancement,
features that can be used to differentiate from myelopathy that affect the parenchyma only, such as
demyelination. Unusual manifestations were syringomyelia and paradoxical manifestations seen in 3
patients each. The outcome were overall poor, with 68% having MRS 3 or more.
Conclusion: Spinal TB is common in TB meningitis. The outcome is overall poor. A heightened
awareness is crucial to enable early diagnosis and treatment.