Acute hematogenous osteomyelitis: an experimental model.

The injection of barium sulphate (micropaque) contaminated with Staphylococcus aureus into the nutrient artery of the canine tibia produced typical inflammatory bone changes. This alteration, similar to those observed in human hematogenous osteomyelitis, consisted of medullary destruction, spontaneous fractures, and intense periosteal new bone formation. This system seems to mimic the characteristics of some clinical bone infections and may provide a model for therapeutic trials.