Arvind Kumar1, Usha Singh2
BACKGROUND
Chronic osteomyelitis is an infective inflammation of bone. This is a common problem in a developing country like India. Out of various reasons like open fractures, surgical interferences, nearby sepsis, penetrating injuries and haematogenous spread is the common cause of infection. This is very common in younger children and in majority of time it is due to haematogenous spread of bacteria. Bone involvement is common because of rich blood supply of growing skeleton in children.
The aim of this study is to evaluate epidemiology, pattern of bacteriological agent and site of bone involvement in cases of chronic osteomyelitis.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
This is a retrospective study in 41 patients conducted at a private hospital from January 2014 to December 2016. Cases attending in outpatient department with chronic osteomyelitis with discharging sinus were subjected to pus culture and sensitivity tests, Gram staining along with routine haematological investigations and radiological examination.
RESULTS
In our study, majority (36.5%) of patients belongs to 10-19 years of age range, 31.7% in 1-9 years range. Chronic osteomyelitis was more common in males (73.1%) than females (26.8%). 21 (51.2%) patients had compound fracture (trauma) and haematogenous spread in 11 (26.8%) patients. Most common site was tibia upper end (26.8%) and femur lower end (21.9%). Most common bacteriological agent were staphylococcus aureus 53.6%), coagulase-negative staphylococcus (14.6%), E. coli (12.1%), others are proteus, Klebsiella and pseudomonas.
CONCLUSION
Chronic osteomyelitis is most commonly a sequel of open fracture in our study. Careful antibiotic selection after culture and sensitivity is an effective treatment modality.
