[Treatment of osteomyelitis and reconstructive measures in patients with war injuries]

54 wartime trauma patients injured by bombs, shell splinters or rockets were treated between 1985 and 1989 in the Orthopaedic Clinic of RWTH Aachen. Lesions of the lower limbs were dominating (78%). Treatment was often tedious, and up to 12 operations had to be performed. In 81% one extremity was injured, in 17% two extremities were involved. 78% of the patients were already primarily treated at home, mostly by amputations. 33% of the patients suffered from bone infections at admission. Infections were mostly caused by Staphylococcus aureus or Pseudomonas aeruginosa. In 41% of all patients operative treatment for osteomyelitis was necessary (37% sequesterectomies, 44% stabilisations with fixateur externe). In advanced bone infection amputations were indispensable in 28%. In 27% of our wartime trauma patients reconstructive surgery was performed (spongiosa transplantations in 91%, stabilisation with fixateur externe in 44%). In none of our patients treated with reconstructive surgery an amputation was necessary later on.