Gram-negative osteomyelitis following puncture wounds of the foot

Seven cases of gram-negative osteomyelitis following puncture wounds of the foot are presented. Regardless of age (range, five to thirty-two years) all patients had a similar, typical clinical picture of one to two weeks of improvement after the initial post-traumatic inflammation followed by worsening of the local signs. Two patients were successfully treated with antibiotics alone and five, with antibiotics in combination with curettage.