Evaluation of Secondary Chronic Suppurative Osteomyelitis of Jaw in 15 Cases: A Retrospective Analysis

Abstract

Introduction: Chronic osteomyelitis may become a refractory condition and is more difficult to treat. Therefore, for correct diagnosis and evaluation of chronic osteomylitis, primary health care practitioners must have knowledge of signs and symptoms associated with osteomyelitis for effective management. Aim: To evaluate secondary chronic suppurative osteomyelitis of jaw in 15 cases. Materials and Methods: This was a retrospective study of all patients treated for maxillo-mandibular secondary chronic osteomyelitis over a period of six years (January 2013 to December 2018) in Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Government Dental College and Hospital, Nagpur, Maharashtra, India. This study was carried out in between November 2019 to November 2020. A total of fifteen cases were identified which were diagnosed as Secondary Chronic Suppurative Osteomyelitis (SCO) and treated for same. The cases were evaluated for demographic data, risk factors, aetiology, clinical presentation, radiological findings and the management. Data was collected through retrospective search of records and was arranged in descriptive tabular format without statistical analysis. Results: Out of 15 cases 9 (60%) were female. The patients ranged in age from 21 to 56 years with a mean age of 36.6±9.0 years. The mean age at first symptoms was 35.5 years (20-55), with a standard deviation of 9.12 years. The distribution of osteomyelitis in the jaws was dominated by the cases that occurred in the mandible i.e., 73.33% (11 cases) and the maxilla 26.66% (four cases) with most common involved site was body and angle region of mandible (eight cases) followed by premolar region two cases and anterior region one case. In this study, five cases (33.33%) had carious lesion and seven cases (46.67%) had infected extraction socket. Other causes of infection were osteoradionecrosis in one case and superimposed infection like mucormycosis in two cases. The most common causes of chronic osteomyelitis of the jaws were directly related to odontogenic infections like infected unhealed socket. Decortication and curettage was done in four cases. Decortication and sequestrectomy were performed in five cases and debridement of necrosed bone in three cases. Sinus opening, debridement of necrosed wall and packing were done in three cases of SCO involving maxilla. Duration of antibiotic therapy in all patients averaged five weeks. Conclusion: The accurate diagnosis with the help of recent imaging techniques, adequate antibiotic therapy as well as surgical treatment was keys for the success of SCO management.