J Korean Orthop Assoc.  1974 Dec;9(4):381-392. 10.4055/jkoa.1974.9.4.381.

Early Decompression and Continous Irrigation in Acute Hematogenous Osteomyelitis

• Choi KH
• Kang CN
• Joo KI
• Park CD

• KMID: 2471461
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4055/jkoa.1974.9.4.381

Abstract

Early treatment of hematogenous osteomyelitis is mandatory in order to prevent the spreading of the disease process and to completely abolish the infection. Antibiotic therapy must always be supplemented by early surgical intervention such as decompression and continous irrigation. Sixteen cases of hematogenous osteomyelitis treated in such a manner were divided into three different groups. Surgical intervention was made when proven by aspiration of pus or by positive culture. Continous irrigation was done until no more pus or necrotic debris were seen in the draining tube. The first group had marked local symptoms with detectable periosteal changes on roentgenogram and aspiration had yielded frank pus. In this group the focus failed to localize and eventually spread to the entire bone despite treatment. The second group had less severe symptoms and pus was obtained on aspiration but there were no roentgenographic changes. This group had responded fairly well to cortical drilling and continous irrigation with complete cure in two out of three cases. The third group was early cases and repeated aspiration did not show any pus but subsequent culture was positive. These cases responded very well by early abolishment of pathological changes with very mild roentgenographic residual changes, Early decompression and continous irrigation are effective in the treatment of acute hematogenous osteomyelitis in early stages, especially before a considerable amount of subperiosteal abscess has formed.

MeSH Terms

Abscess
Decompression*
Osteomyelitis*
Suppuration

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