Osteomyelitis of the Calcaneus With Pathologic Fracture

Clinical characteristics, treatment and efficacy of calcaneal osteomyelitis: A systematic review with synthesis analysis 1118 reported cases

BACKGROUND

Calcaneal osteomyelitis (CO) still poses great challenges to orthopaedic surgeons due to unique anatomic and functional features of the calcaneus. This study summarized the current data regarding clinical characteristics, treatment and efficacy of CO, based on an analysis of literature-reported cases.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We searched the PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane Library databases to find English and Chinese studies reporting on CO patients between 2000 and 2021, with available data for synthesis analysis. The quality of the included studies was evaluated by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) assessment scale. Effective data were extracted and pooled for analysis.

RESULTS

Altogether 198 studies involving 1118 patients were included, with a male-to-female ratio of 2.3 (724 males and 310 females). The median age at CO diagnosis was 46 years, with a median symptom duration of 3 months. Injury-related infections (524 cases) and diabetic foot infections (336 cases) were the two most common causes, with ulcer (468 cases) and wound sinus or exudation (209 cases) being the predominant symptoms. The overall positive culture rate was 80.2%, with polymicrobial infections accounting for 18.1%. Staphylococcus aureus was the most frequently detected pathogen (42.7%), with fungal-related infections isolated in 17 cases. Although most patients received surgical interventions (96.9%), the recurrence rate was 20.1%. The incidence of infection relapse following partial calcanectomy, total calcanectomy, debridement with implantation of local antibiotics, and debridement with or without flap or skin coverage were 31.7%, 45.0%, 16.8%, and 15.1%, respectively. The overall incidence of limb amputation was 12.4%, with all-cause and CO-related mortalities of 2.8% and 0.2%, separately.

CONCLUSIONS

CO shared similar characteristics with extremity chronic osteomyelitis, primarily affecting young males, with trauma and diabetic foot as the leading causes and Staphylococcus aureus as the most frequently detected pathogen. Despite surgery being the primary treatment modality, clinical outcomes remained unsatisfactory, marked by high rates of infection recurrence and limb amputation.

Using 3D printing-assisted shaping titanium cages and Masquelet techniques to reconstruct calcaneal osteomyelitis complicated by extensive soft tissue and uncontrolled defects

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the clinical efficacy of three-dimensional (3D) printing-assisted shaping titanium cage combined with Masquelet technology in the treatment of calcaneal infectious defects.

METHODS

A retrospective analysis was performed of the data from nine patients with chronic calcaneal infection defects treated with distal gastronal flap coverage and one patient with free anterolateral thigh flap coverage, also using a 3D printing-assisted shaping titanium cage combined with both mask technology and rib autografting from January 2017 to January 2019. There were seven males and three females, with a mean age of 37 years (range, 17-52 years). The injury mechanism of the 10 patients included four motor vehicle incidents, four high fall injuries, and two rolling compactions. All patients were treated by two⁃stage procedures. The first stage included debridement, polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) filling, and regional flap coverage. The soft tissue defect of the 10 cases included 80 cm2 in four cases and 56 cm2, 40 cm2, and 15 cm2 in each of two cases. The bone defect was 24 cm3 and 18 cm3 in each of four cases and 3 cm3 in two cases. The second stage was the mask technology of 3D printing-assisted shaping titanium cage combined with rib autografting. Time of bone union, calcaneus morphology, implant position, and the Maryland and AOFAS hind foot scores were recorded to evaluate the clinical outcome.

RESULTS

All 10 patients were followed up for a mean of 18.5 months (range, 12-30 months). Infection occurred in two patients 2 months after the first stage operation and were successfully treated by debridement and PMMA replacement. The incision of the other eight cases all healed successfully. Cultures from the 10 cases included five cases of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, three cases of S. aureus, and one case each of Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. All 10 patients exhibited calcaneus bone union after the second stage operation. The mean time for bone union was 4.32 (range, 3-8) months. Bone trabeculae were observed in a CT scan 13 (range, 10-22) months post-operation. The mean Maryland score at 12 months post-operation was 92 (range, 86-98) and the mean AOFAS ankle hind foot score was 89.8 (range, 83-100).

CONCLUSION

Three-dimensional printing-assisted shaping titanium cages and Masquelet technology may be effective methods for the treatment of infectious calcaneal defects.

An Innovative Approach to Calcaneal Decubitus Ulcerations Through Calcaneal Decorticalization with Use of Localized Bone Marrow and Negative-Pressure Wound Therapy: A Case Study

Heel decubitus ulcerations are relatively common occurrences that can be limb threatening. There are many options to treat these ulcerations, ranging from conservative wound care to serial debridement with flap reconstruction. However, not all patients are good candidates for major reconstructive surgery. In this case, we present a 46-year-old man who failed 3 months of conservative wound care after sustaining a heel decubitus ulcer because of immobilization from a motor vehicle accident. The ulceration was treated with sharp excision of the wound with calcaneal decorticalization and use of negative-pressure wound therapy to use the localized bone marrow within the wound bed. The patient went on to heal within 3 months of operative intervention and remains healed greater than 1 year postoperatively. This technique provided the ability to use localized bone marrow to assist in wound healing without the operative morbidity of a reconstructive procedure.

Surgical Treatment of Diabetic Foot and Ankle Osteomyelitis

A review of the literature regarding the evaluation and management of osteomyelitis and discussion on clinical, radiographic, laboratory, and pathologic findings with both acute and chronic cases is presented. Cases illustrate the complexities that can typically present at an academic setting, which often require a stepwise approach and interdisciplinary collaboration. Surgical pearls and ancillary treatment of osteomyelitis highlight the technical challenges and surgeons' preferences.

Novel Technique for the Treatment of a Tongue-Type Calcaneal Fracture in the Setting of Chronic Osteomyelitis

Osteomyelitis of the calcaneus combined with a pathologic fracture is a rare and difficult presentation for any practicing foot and ankle surgeon. Treatment for achieving an aseptic nonunion involves a variety of steps, including surgical debridement, antibiotic administration, and fracture stabilization. In this case series, we report a novel technique for the treatment of a tongue-type calcaneal fracture in the setting of chronic osteomyelitis using the Biomet JuggerLoc bone-to-bone system for fixation.

Acute osteomyelitis of the distal fibula in children: Treatment options and long-term follow-up

INTRODUCTION

Acute osteomyelitis of the distal fibula is a rare disease in children and is characterized by special features compared with other sites. The objective of this study was to report the functional outcome at long-term follow-up.

METHODS

We reviewed retrospectively, between January 2000 and December 2010, all cases of acute osteomyelitis of the distal fibula. Epidemiological and bacteriological data as well as therapy and outcome factors were analyzed. At the last follow-up, functional outcome was studied based on ankle motion, growth disturbance, and radiological sequelae.

RESULTS

Seven cases of acute osteomyelitis of the distal fibula were found. The mean age was patients was 7.71 years and the sex ratio was 2.5. The portal of entry of the pathogen was a skin injury in 57% of cases. Staphylococcusaureus was identified in 71% of cases. The mean duration of antibiotic therapy was 33.2 days. At a mean of 12.85 years of follow-up, no growth disturbance was found. The mean plantar and dorsal flexion was 41° and 27.7°, respectively. The mean postoperative American Orthopedics Foot and Ankle score (AOFAS) was 96.71 points.

CONCLUSION

Acute osteomyelitis of the distal fibula in children is scarce and rarely reported in the literature. It occurs more often in boys at an average age of 7 years. Local symptoms are usually more obvious than general symptoms. Surgical debridement of the subperiosteal abscess without bone trepanation seems to lead to a satisfactory outcome.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Level IV - case series. IRB: Sahloul Hospital Human Research Ethics Committee.