Two-stage management of chronic osteomyelitis of the long bones. The Belfast technique
- 1 May 1993
- journal article
- Published by British Editorial Society of Bone & Joint Surgery in The Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery. British volume
- Vol. 75-B (3) , 375-380
- https://doi.org/10.1302/0301-620x.75b3.8496203
Abstract
We treated 37 patients with chronic osteomyelitis of the tibia (25), femur (9), radius (2) and humerus (1) by a two-stage technique, comprising radical debridement of all infected bone and soft tissue with the provision of soft-tissue cover, and delayed autogenous bone grafting when necessary. All patients were reviewed at an average of 49 months (12 to 121). Infection-free bone union was achieved in 34. No patient required amputation. Wide excision of all compromised tissue and the closure of bone within a healthy vascularised soft-tissue envelope are essential if infection is to be eradicated. The combined assessment and management of such patients by an orthopaedic surgeon and a plastic surgeon are advocated.Keywords
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