What Researchers Did
Researchers retrospectively reviewed cases of chronic tibial osteomyelitis treated with surgery, antibiotics, and hyperbaric oxygen at Duke University Medical Center between 1974 and 1991.
What They Found
Of 34 patients, the median delay from diagnosis to hyperbaric oxygen was 12.5 months, with patients undergoing an average of 8.3 surgical procedures and 35 hyperbaric oxygen treatments. At 24 months post-treatment, 21 of 26 patients (81%) remained drainage-free, and 12 of 15 (80%) were drainage-free at 60 months. Patients who received muscle flaps were more likely to be drainage-free after 84 months compared to those who only received debridement.
What This Means for Canadian Patients
Canadian patients suffering from chronic tibial osteomyelitis may benefit from a comprehensive treatment approach combining surgery, antibiotics, and hyperbaric oxygen therapy. The inclusion of free vascularized muscle flaps could further improve long-term success rates in achieving a drainage-free state.
Canadian Relevance
This study was conducted at Duke University Medical Center in the United States, with no direct Canadian connection.
Study Limitations
The study is a retrospective review from a single center, and the long-term follow-up data was limited to a small number of patients.