FOR HOW LONG SHOULD WE REVIEW PATIENTS AFTER TREATMENT OF CHRONIC OSTEOMYELITIS? AN ANALYSIS OF RECURRENCE PATTERNS IN 759 PATIENTS

Abstract

Aim Bone infection can recur months or years after initially successful treatment. It is difficult to review patients for many years to determine the true incidence of recurrence. This study determined the minimum follow-up period which gives a good indication of the recurrence rate after surgery for chronic osteomyelitis and infected non-union. Method We studied five cohorts of patients who had surgery for long bone infection, over a 10 year period. We investigated the efficacy of various antibiotic carriers (PMMA and Collagen; n=185, Calcium Sulphate; n=195, Calcium Sulphate/Hydroxyapatite; n=233) and management of infected non-unions (n=146). Patients were reviewed and Kaplan-Meier Survivorship curves were constructed to show the incidence and timing of recurrence. The microbiology of the initial infection and the recurrent culture was also compared. Results 759 patients were reviewed between 12 and 131 months after surgery (mean 43.7 months). Infection recurred in 52 cases (6.9%). 34 patients recurred...