[Magnetic resonance tomography in preoperative analysis of chronic post-traumatic osteomyelitis].

Chronic osteomyelitis in 8 patients was studied preoperatively by magnetic resonance (MR) imaging and in part of them also by computed tomography (CT). Morphologic information about extraosseous and intraosseous changes was important for surgical planning. In long bones CT generally is superior delineating bone structures (sequestra and fragments of devitalized bone in the intramedullary cavity) and MR may be used as an adjunct for localizing extraosseous and intraosseous abscesses. In trabecular bones as the os calcis MR seems to be equivalent to CT.