Chronic Osteomyelitis in Patients with Sickle Cell Disease

Objective: To determine the baseline pattern and audit management modalities of chronic osteomyelitis in patients with sickle cell disease.

Design: A retrospective study.

Setting: Jos University Teaching Hospital, Jos, Nigeria from August 1993 to July 1997.

Patients: Twenty four patients with concomitant chronic sickle cell disease.

Interventions: Fifteen patients had operations; eleven had sequestrectomy and curettage while four had incision and drainage. Eight patients were treated with antibiotics alone and one patient refused surgery.

Main Outcome Measures: The demographic data of patients, aetiological agents, culture and sensitivity patterns, aetiopathogenesis, treatment modalities and outcome were analysed.

Results: Twenty four (36.9%) out of 65 patients who had chronic osteomyelitis also had sickle cell disease. Male:female ratio was 1.2:1. The peak age incidence (37.5%) was in the first decade of life. Seventy five per cent of infections were haematogenous. The most frequently isolated organism was Staphylococcus aureus (58.8%) while the rest were Gram negative organisms. There was no case of Salmonella osteomyelitis. The most sensitive antibiotics were gentamicin and the third generation cephalosporins. Twelve patients (50%) had good results while eight (33.3%) were still undergoing treatment. Complications recorded were persistent discharging sinuses in two cases, recurrence of symptoms in one and pathological fracture with non-union in one patient.

Conclusion: Though the incidence of Gram negative organisms in causation of chronic osteomyelitis in patients who have sickle cell disease is high (41.2%), Salmonella osteomyelitis may be related to endemicity of the organism in a given locality.