Posttraumatic and postoperative osteomyelitis: surgical revision strategy with persisting fistula

Introduction Posttraumatic and postoperative osteomyelitis (PPO) with bacteria colonisation during trauma and associated surgery is an increasing clinical problem. This study investigated the treatment of PPO by surgical revision including irrigation, debridement, and temporary hardware maintenance. In addition, a drainage was inserted as persisting fistula to control osteomyelitis until fracture healing was achieved. Trauma- and osteomyelitis-related factors that influenced the study outcome were determined. Patients and methods 67 consecutive patients with PPO were included. At onset of PPO, patients had incomplete fracture healing. Patients were subdivided by time of PPO occurrence (acute, subacute or chronic), initial soft tissue trauma, anatomical location, and initial fracture type (AO classification). The study outcome measures included radiographic and clinical follow-up. Results 59 patients could be followed for an average of 23 months after revision surgery. A bone healing was achieved by 89 % of patients after 14.7 ± 13.4 weeks. Fractures of the lower extremity, open fractures and comminuted C-type fractures took significantly longer to achieve bone healing ( p