Chronic osteomyelitis in pin tracks.

We reviewed the cases of fourteen patients with chronic osteomyelitis involving a pin track (twelve tibial, one ulnar, and one radial) after either external fixation (thirteen patients) or skeletal traction (one patient). In general, the involved pins had been inserted into cortical bone; in no patient was the pintrack infection in cancellous bone. Treatment consisting of débridement, curettage, open packing, and administration of antibiotics successfully eradicated seven of the eight Staphylococcus aureus infections but failed to cure four of the six gram-negative-rod infections. Repeat curettage with delayed fresh autogenous cancellous bone-grafting was successful in treating the more resistant infections.