A Case of Chronic Osteomyelitis Successfully Treated with Kampo Formula Keishi-mao-kakuhan-to / 日本東洋医学雑誌

ABSTRACT

A 27-year-old female had swelling, hotness and pain on her right clavicle. She was diagnosed as having chronic osteomyelitis and received bone curettement. However, even after this therapy, she occasionally suffered from recurrence of osteomyelitis. In the middle of July 1992, she was pregnant and had a low grade fever and pain from the right clavicle to the right upper arm. On **********, she visited our department and was diagnosed as having deterioration of the chronic osteomyelitis with pregnancy, based on the symptoms and laboratory data. In Kampo diagnosis, she was in the initial stage of Yang diseases with ectodermal symptoms, since she had headache and fever with slight chills and her pulse was floating. She received Keishi-mao-kakuhan-to and acupuncture therapy. The therapy gradually improved the symptoms and laboratory data. The present case suggests that Oriental medicine is one approach to the treatment of chronic osteomyelitis. Furthermore, the fact that the present therapy was effective during pregnancy without any adverse effects supports the clinical usefulness of Oriental medicine, especially since administration of massive amounts of antibiotics or surgery is often not advisable for pregnant women.