Development of chronic mandibular osteomyelitis in a miniswine model

Previous attempts to develop a reproducible model of chronic mandibular osteomyelitis have met with limited success. In this study, osteomyelitis was produced in the mandibles of eight adult Yucatan miniswine by the intramedullary application of sodium morrhuate, Staphylococcus aureus, and either polymethylmethacrylate bone cement or bone wax. At 8 weeks' postinfection, the mandibles were surgically debrided and specimens were obtained for culture. Although all of the animals developed clinical evidence of osteomyelitis that was supported by positive cultures, the original organism (S aureus) was recovered only from those animals where bone wax had been used to seal the cortical defects. This animal model may be useful for evaluating newer treatment modalities for chronic osteomyelitis.