Post-traumatic osteomyelitis in dogs and cats. / Infezioni ossee nel cane e nel gatto: l'osteomielite post-traumatica

Chronic post-traumatic osteomyelitis is often caused by simple bacterial infection (in particular Staphylococcus spp.) but anaerobic bacteria are commonly found in polymicrobial infections. The risk factors are initial contamination, presence of foreign body or an environment favourable for bacterial proliferation. The appendicular skeleton is affected in 90% of cases of post-traumatic osteomyelitis. Diagnosis is made on clinical examination, radiology and bacterial analysis. Treatment is surgical (exploration, debridement, obliteration of dead space, cancellous bone graft, removal of osteosynthesis material, etc.) and medical (systemic and/or local antibiotherapy). The rate of recovery is 80 to 90% but treatment is long and costly.