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Treatment of chronic osteomyelitis in Korea
1Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Oral Biology Research Institute, College of Dentistry, Chosun University, Kwangju City, Korea. SGCKIM@mail.chosun.ac.kr
Objective:
We sought to investigate the clinical and histopathologic features of chronic osteomyelitis and its treatment in Koreans.
Study Design:
A total of 49 patients (ages 11-79 years; mean, 47.3 years) were examined in this retrospective chart review. In a new treatment protocol used for 39 patients, chronic osteomyelitis of the jaws was treated by surgical intervention and 2 weeks of intravenous antibiotics, followed by 6 weeks of oral antibiotics, whereas a control group consisting of 10 patients was treated by surgery alone. Surgical therapy consisted of decortication or sequestrectomy and saucerization of the affected bone. A successful outcome was defined as the resolution of symptoms after surgery alone or after surgery and 8 weeks of antibiotic therapy. Failure was defined as a case requiring a second operation and 8 additional weeks of antibiotic therapy.
Results:
A successful outcome was seen in 94.9% of patients on the new treatment protocol, as well as in 60% of control patients. A purulent discharge developed in 2 cases after the new treatment protocol and in 4 control cases, but the patients were treated successfully with a second operation.
Conclusions:
Surgery followed by antibiotic therapy for at least 8 weeks is an effective method for treating chronic osteomyelitis of the jaws.