Antibiotic-impregnated calcium sulfate for the treatment of pediatric hematogenous osteomyelitis.

BACKGROUND: Antibiotic-impregnated calcium sulfate has excellent curative efficacy in chronic osteomyelitis. However, its curative efficacy in pediatric hematogenous osteomyelitis has not been sufficiently studied. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the curative effects of antibiotic-impregnated calcium sulfate in the treatment of pediatric hematogenous osteomyelitis. METHODS: Overall, twenty-one pediatric patients with hematogenous osteomyelitis treated at our hospital between 2013 and 2018 were included for assessment. The clinical history, clinical manifestation, infection recurrence rate, sinus leakage, incision leakage, pathological fractures, bone growth and surgical procedures were analyzed. RESULTS: The infection recurrence rate was 0% (0/21) at a minimum of 31 months (range 31 to 91 months) of follow-up. Postoperative incision leakage was found in one pediatric patient. Osteolysis was found in one pediatric patient. Acceleration of bone growth occurred in one pediatric patient. Retardation of bone growth occurred in one pediatric patient. Genu valgus deformity occurred in one pediatric patient. CONCLUSIONS: Although noninfectious complications occurred, the curative effect of antibiotic-impregnated calcium sulfate in pediatric hematogenous osteomyelitis was satisfactory.

Extensive eggshell-like debridement technique plus antibiotic-loaded calcium sulphate for one-stage treatment of chronic calcaneal osteomyelitis.

BACKGROUND: Management of chronic calcaneal osteomyelitis is challenging. At present, there is still no widely accepted, simple, and effective surgical method to eradicate the infection and prevent osteomyelitis recurrence. The objective of this study was to assess the outcomes of one-stage treatment of chronic calcaneal osteomyelitis with a shape-preserving debridement technique combined with antibiotic-loaded calcium sulphate. METHODS: Between 2012 and 2018, 33 patients (33 limbs) with chronic calcaneal osteomyelitis were treated with a novel debridement technique, named "eggshell-like debridement", plus antibiotic-impregnated calcium sulphate. The infection remission rate, recurrence rate, and amputation rate were analyzed. The American Orthopedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) ankle and hindfoot score was used to assess postoperative hindfoot function. RESULTS: 26 patients (81.8%) achieved infection remission without recurrence. In the patients with osteomyelitis remission, pain, limitation of movement, sinus tracts, and typical redness and swelling were generally eliminated. Most of the patients could tolerate full weight-bearing without pain. The average AOFAS ankle and hindfoot score was 88 points (range, 67-100 points), implying the foot function was mostly restored. 6 patients (18.2%) had osteomyelitis recurrence but no amputation was required to elimilate the infection. CONCLUSIONS: Eggshell-like debridement combined with antibiotic-loaded calcium sulphate is an effective method for one-stage management of chronic calcaneal osteomyelitis. With the application of this technique, secondary autogenous bone or muscle flap grafts are unnecessary. The surgical procedure can be simplified whlie the hindfoot function is well preserved.

Infected bone resection plus adjuvant antibiotic-impregnated calcium sulfate versus infected bone resection alone in the treatment of diabetic forefoot osteomyelitis.

BACKGROUND: Managing with diabetic foot osteomyelitis (DFO) is challenging. Even after infective bone resection and thorough debridement, DFO is still difficult to cure and has a high recurrence rate. This retrospective study aims to compare the outcomes of two treatment methods, infected bone resection combined with adjuvant antibiotic-impregnated calcium sulfate and infected bone resection alone, for the treatment of diabetic foot osteomyelitis. METHODS: Between 2015 to 2017, 48 limbs (46 patients) with DFO met the criteria were included for assessment. 20 limbs (18 patients) were included in the calcium sulfate group (the CS group) in which vancomycin and/or gentamicin-impregnated calcium sulfate was used as an adjuvant after infected bone resection while 28 limbs (28 patients) as the control group were undergone infected bone resection only. Systemic antibiotics, postoperative wound care and offloading were continued to be applied following surgery in both groups. The time to healing, healing rate, recurrence rate and amputation rate were compared between the two groups. RESULTS: In total, 90% (18/20) limbs in the CS group as compared to 78.6% (22/28) infected limbs in the control group went to heal (P = 0.513). The Mean time to healing was 13.3 weeks in the CS group and 11.2 weeks in control group (P = 0.132). Osteomyelitis recurrence rate was 0% (0/18) in the CS group and 36.4% (8/22) in the control group (P = 0.014). Postoperative leakage in calcium sulfate group was 30.0% (6/20) with a mean duration of 8.5 weeks. Amputation rate in the control group was 7.1% (2/28) compared to 0% (0/20) in the CS group (P = 0.153). CONCLUSIONS: Antibiotic-impregnated calcium sulfate as an adjuvant prevents the recurrence of DFO but cannot improve the healing rate, reduce the postoperative amputation rate or shorten the time to healing. Prolonged postoperative leakage as the most common complication can be managed with regular dressing. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: III, Retrospective Comparative Study.