A prospective evaluation of the diagnostic value of sinus specimen cultures in chronic osteomyelitis.

We prospectively compared organisms isolated from sinus and bone marrow specimens in 25 patients with chronic osteomyelitis at the King Orthopaedic Clinic, Ekpoma, Edo State, Nigeria between January 2001 and December 2003. Sinus and bone marrow specimens were taken from each patient at the time of surgery and sent for aerobic cultures. The mean age was 12 years, with a range of 6-40 years. Staphylococcus aureus was the commonest organism associated with chronic osteomyelitis. Organisms isolated from the sinus specimens were similar to those obtained from the bone marrow specimens. Sinus specimen culture is a good guide to selection of antibiotics in the preoperative treatment of chronic osteomyelitis.