ABSTRACT
Objective To observe the effect of vancomycin-loaded calcium sulfate for one-stage treatment of chronic osteomyelitis.Methods A retrospective case series study was made on 26 patients with chronic osteomyelitis treated from January 2014 to April 2016.There were 23 males and 3 females,with a mean age of 35.8 years (range,16-90 years).After focus debridement of osteomyelitis,the cavities were filled with vancomycin-loaded calcium sulfate and systemic antibiotics were used.Meanwhile,gentamicin was added to patients showing unclear pathogens.Three patients underwent flap transfer surgery simultaneously due to the inadequate soft tissue coverage.Wound healing,local redness and swelling,sinus recurrence,recovery of osteomyelitis and repair of bone defect were detected after operation.Results All patients were followed up for 6-30 months (mean,19.5 months).Primary healing was achieved in all patients.One patient experienced wound exudate and was effectively managed by dressing change,one patient experienced inadequate local soft tissue coverage and was effectively managed by a second flap transfer surgery,and one patient remained wound unhealing after two surgeries and was cured by infected bone resection using the Masquelet induced membrane technique.Follow-up showed local bone defect was repaired in all patients without bone infection recurrence.Conclusions For patients with chronic osteomyelitis,one-stage surgery with vancomycin-loaded calcium sulfate can control infection with simultaneous repair of bone defect.Therefore,the procedure is a simple and effective method and worthy of clinical practice.