[Posttraumatic osteomyelitis. Mode of infection, significance of metal implants].

Guniea-pigs of the Duncan-Hartley strain were used in a model of posttraumatic osteomyelitis. One femur had been fractured with or without consequent metal implantation and infected subsequently with 10(7) or 10(5) staphylococcus aureus or E. coli. 85% of the animals infected with staph. aureus and 56% infected with E. coli developed osteomyelitis. Healing of infection occurred in 3 cases only and always in the absence of metal implants. All bone infection persisting for more than 3 months were also detectable after 12-18 months. The assessment of opsonising factors revealed a long lasting deficiency in guinea-pigs with metal implants.