Osteomyelitis is a chronic bone infection that is very difficult to eradicate. Patients often come to our attention with open wounds and deep osteocutaneous fistulae that last for years, with no possibility of healing, despite various types of therapies. Medical therapy can reduce the bacterial load, but it often fails to completely heal infected tissues, since not only are they infiltrated by the infection itself, but they have a consistency and trophism that leads them to yield easily.
This is the case of a patient with chronic 5th metatarsal osteomyelitis involving much of the ulnar portion of the plantar forefoot. As you can see in the photo, the margins of the wound do not have the potential of a well-vascularized tissue through which to direct healing by secondary intention.
Before Surgical treatment
