Incidence of pubic osteomyelitis after bladder neck suspension using bone anchors

To determine the incidence of pubic osteomyelitis after bladder neck suspension using suprapubic bone anchors.

The target population consisted of 290 consecutive women who underwent bladder neck suspension using suprapubic bone anchors between June 1994 and November 1999 at two referral centers. A structured telephone questionnaire was designed to elicit any history of clinical symptoms suspicious for pubic osteomyelitis. Positive responses were followed up by a detailed review of the medical records. Nonresponders were evaluated by chart review, with negative cases included only if the documented follow-up reached 1 year.

The sample consisted of 225 women, representing 77.6% of the study population, with a mean age of 69.7 years (range 40 to 88) and a mean follow-up of 31.8 months (range 13.4 to 42.2). Of the 225 women, 179 (80%) completed the telephone survey; 46 patients (20%) were evaluated by long-term chart review. Three patients (1.3%) reported positive responses to the screening questionnaire and were confirmed to have developed pubic osteomyelitis. Each had undergone exploratory laparotomy, anchor removal, bony debridement, and prolonged parenteral antibiosis. The most common noninfectious complaints were irritative voiding symptoms and pubic or groin pain responding to "conservative" therapy (3.5%), including 1 case of osteitis pubis. One subject underwent repeated operation because of erosion of the sling sutures into the bladder.

The estimated incidence of osteomyelitis after bone-anchored bladder neck suspension was 1.3%. Although postoperative osteomyelitis is rare, each case incurs substantial morbidity and a complicated postoperative course.