Role of Antibiotic Impregnated Calcium Sulfate Beads in Treatment of Paediatric Chronic Osteomyelitis

Background: In cases of persistent osteomyelitis, calcium sulfate impregnated with antibiotics provides excellent therapeutic efficacy. Its ability to treat paediatric chronic osteomyelitis, however, has not received enough research attention. This study aimed to assess the potential therapeutic benefits of calcium sulfate impregnated with antibiotics for the management of juvenile chronic osteomyelitis. Methods: Ten paediatric cases with chronic osteomyelitis who received care at our facility between January 2022 and December 2023 in total were included for evaluation. An analysis was conducted on the clinical history, clinical manifestation, pathological fractures, bone growth, surgical operations and rate of infection recurrence, leakage from sinuses and incisions. Results: After at least a year of follow-up, there was no infection recurrence, no osteolysis. In one paediatric case, incision site leakage occurred and one had non-union and limb shortening occurred. Conclusion: In paediatric chronic osteomyelitis, antibiotic-impregnated calcium sulfate had a satisfactory therapeutic effect, despite the occurrence of non-infectious sequelae.