Bone infection

Particularly after severe injuries with shattered bone and soft tissue destruction, germs can reach the bone via open wounds, but also via the bloodstream, where they can lead to serious, chronic infections. Often, patients have already undergone a number of unsuccessful operations.

First the infection must be removed ...

In addition to the complete removal of the germ-infected tissue, the control and, if necessary, the improvement of the local blood supply is always an important prerequisite. Only in this way can medication (antibiotics) reach the source of the infection. If bone damaged by injury has irregular surfaces with poor circulation, where germs can "hide" from antibiotics, the only option is often the complete removal of the damaged segment, even if this initially results in a defect many centimeters long or a shortening.

... before the reconstruction takes place

Callus distraction has proven to be a highly efficient method to create autogenous bone and thus to "biologically" bridge even large long-bone defects or to lengthen shortened bones. Often the decision to completely remove the damaged, infected bone is made too late and valuable time is lost. At ZEM-Germany, all techniques for consistent, permanent infection eradication and biological bone reconstruction are available.