[Chronic osteomyelitis of the tibia; use of bioactive glass as a treatment alternative]

Chronic osteomyelitis is a disease usually of infectious origin. The main cause is post-traumatic, it affects the bone tissue and surrounding tissue, the most frequent causative agent is Staphylococcus aureus. The most affected bone is the tibia.

A 42-year-old male with a diagnosis of chronic tibia osteomyelitis, with sequelae of previous surgical interventions, multiple antibiotic treatments, and type IV B classification by Cierny-Mader.

Two-stage surgical management was chosen. Firstly, extensive bone and soft tissue debridement, placement of cement beads medicated with amikacin in the medullary cavity and osteoclast system for irrigation with vancomycin. In the second stage, free fibular bone grafting, fixation and stabilization with screws, bioactive glass placement in areas of interface between stabilized fibula and posterior tibial cortex.

Before a multitratada chronic osteomyelitis it is necessary to individualize and evaluate treatment alternatives, in this case the surgical management in two time, the use of medication beads, bone graft and the use of bioactive glass, achieved a complete eradication of the infection and favorable clinical evolution with optimal functional recovery of affected limb.