This site is intended for healthcare professionals

Sign in
Go to /sign-in page

You can view 5 more pages without signing in

Surgery

Last reviewed dd mmm yyyy. Last edited dd mmm yyyy

Authoring team

Surgery should be postponed until there are significant symptoms combined with clear evidence of a sequestrum.

Sulphan blue is injected preoperatively; this stains all vital tissue green, leaving dead tissue unstained. Under antibiotic cover, the surgeon removes all dead i.e. unstained - tissues and bone.

There are several strategies to prevent reinfection and promote healing:

  • double lumen tubes are left in the lumen and antibiotic solution is introduced and aspirated 4 hourly; this is continued until the aspirate is sterile (3-6 weeks) and then the tube is gradually removed
  • the cavity may be packed with gentamicin beads
  • the cavity may be packed with multiple small bone grafts
  • a muscle flap with an intact blood supply may be laid into the cavity

Create an account to add page annotations

Create a free account

Annotations allow you to add information to this page that would be handy to have on hand during a consultation. E.g. a website or number. This information will always show when you visit this page.

The content herein is provided for informational purposes and does not replace the need to apply professional clinical judgement when diagnosing or treating any medical condition. A licensed medical practitioner should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions.

Connect

Copyright 2024 Oxbridge Solutions Limited, a subsidiary of OmniaMed Communications Limited. All rights reserved. Any distribution or duplication of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited. Oxbridge Solutions receives funding from advertising but maintains editorial independence.