[Osteomyelitis of the sacrum]

The authors had 11 patients of different age with osteomyelitis of the sacrum; 9 were males and 2 females. The process was unilateral in most (9) of them. The duration of the disease was approximately 4 months. Before admission to the clinic 8 patients were treated for a long time and unsuccessfully by other specialists. From their experience the authors describe the characteristic complaints, signs, and clinical picture of the disease. They suggest that modern methods of examination (scintigraphy of the skeletal bones, computerized tomography) should be used more frequently. These methods ensure earlier and more reliable detection of destruction of the sacrum and leakage of pus. The 11 patients were operated on. One patient died on the 11th postoperative day from thromboembolism of the pulmonary artery. The disease did not recur in any of the patients who recovered.