[Treatment of a refractory chronic osteomyelitis of the jaw]

Two cases of refractory chronic osteomyelitis of the jaw were presented, the first in a patient with pycnodysostosis, the second that had been receiving radiotherapy. Both cases were primary chronic osteomyelitis with a markedly protracted course of recovery, in spite of the antibiotic and local irrigation therapy. However the lesion was cured by the removal of sequesters and granulation tissues without radical treatment such as a decorticotomy. Radical surgery, decortication, is an effective procedure in the treatment of chronic osteomyelitis of the jaw, but treatment with the surgical procedures which remove only the necrotic bones and granulation tissues followed by antibiotic therapy is also possible.