[Is posttraumatic osteomyelitis of iatrogenic nature?]

A series of 112 patients with posttraumatic osteomyelitis has been reviewed. Analysis of the management revealed, that malpractice contributed to the onset of osteomyelitis in many cases. Since politrauma patients with extensive bone and soft tissue injury are prone to infection errors in management of these patients lead to serious complications. Neglecting of primary immobilization of the open fracture in politrauma patients, incorrect methods of fracture fixation or technical errors at surgery, erroneous soft tissue injury management (complete closure of the wound, neglecting compartment syndrome) and disregarding local antibiotics are among most frequently committed errors. The authors conclude, that in majority of cases posttraumatic osteomyelitis is of iatrogenic nature.