Pyogenic osteomyelitis of axial bones following civilian gunshot wounds.

A series of forty-five patients with low velocity gunshot wounds to the spine and pelvis were followed up for at least eight weeks to determine the incidence of pyogenic osteomyelitis and the role of debridement and fragment removal in its prevention. Four cases of osteomyelitis were found, and although debridement was not frequently done, the incidence of osteomyelitis was higher following debridement than it was without debridement. The most important cause appeared to be spread of contiguous intraabdominal abscesses into the injured paravertebral muscles and spine. If an intraabdominal abscess did not develop, the presence of gastrointestinal injury did not predispose the patient to osteomyelitis. Based on this study, we can conclude that debridement and fragment removal of the spine and pelvic bones are unnecessary for low velocity missile wounds.