[Chronic sclerosing osteomyelitis. Apropos of 4 cases and the value of the treatment by closed intramedullary reaming].

Chronic sclerosing osteomyelitis is a rare variety of primary osteomyelitis located principally on the diaphysis of the long bones in adults. Pain is the main symptom, but biological signs are negative or normal, and histological examination is non-specific. X-rays are very stereotyped with enlargement of the cortex of diaphyseal bone. This disease is note worthy by its difficult diagnosis, and is often misdiagnosed as bone tumor, malignant or benign, especially osteoid osteoma. Four observations are reported and in one case, after 13 years, an abscess developed, bearing out the oneness of chronic, primary osteomyelitis. This form deserves its individualization because of its treatment by closed intra-medullary reaming which proves to be effective after an average follow-up of 10 years.