[Hematogenous osteomyelitis in the adult]

Between 1960 and 1985, 39 cases of haematogenous osteomyelitis in adults have been treated. The clinical signs were somewhat different from those seen in children or adolescents. The difference was due to different patterns in the blood supply of adult bones. Three types are described: acute, sub-acute and suppurating. Some patients purely suffered pain. After the age of 50 the prognosis was much worse. All the cases were treated surgically by evacuation of pus, excision of sequestra and necrosed bone, muscle flaps or bone grafting by the Papineau technique. The results were satisfactory except in the elderly.