Treatment of chronic osteomyelitis in Korea

Objective. We sought to investigate the clinical and histopathologic featur es of chronic osteomyelitis and its treatment in Koreans. Study design. A total of 49 patients (ages 11-79 years; mean, 47.3 years) w ere examined in this retrospective chart review. In a new treatment protoco l used for 39 patients, chronic osteomyelitis of the jaws was treated by su rgical intervention and 2 weeks of intravenous antibiotics, followed by 6 w eeks of oral antibiotics, whereas a control group consisting of 10 patients was treated by surgery alone. Surgical therapy consisted of decortication or sequestrectomy and saucerization of the affected bone. A successful outc ome was defined as the resolution of symptoms after surgery alone or after surgery and 8 weeks of antibiotic therapy. Failure was defined as a case re quiring a second operation and 8 additional weeks of antibiotic therapy. Results. A successful outcome was seen in 94.9% of patients on the new trea tment protocol, as well as in 60% of control patients. A purulent discharge developed in 2 cases after the new treatment protocol and in 4 control cas es, but the patients were treated successfully with a second operation. Conclusions. Surgery followed by antibiotic therapy for at least 8 weeks is an effective method for treating chronic osteomyelitis of the jaws.