OSTEOMYELITIS OF THE MANDIBLE IN SICKLE-CELL DISEASE

We report 16 cases of osteomyelitis of the mandible in patients with s ickle sell disease, an incidence of 5% of all patients who presented w ith osteomyelitis of the jaws. There was a striking predominance of me n (13/16, 81%). The mean age at presentation we 23 years. The pathogen s were predominantly mixed organisms acid Staphylococcus aureus. Lesio ns were mainly in the posterior region of the mandible, and were usual ly operated on under general anaesthesia with adequate provision for t he prevention of hypoxia.