Effect of Preoperative Magnetic Resonance Imaging Diagnosis of Osteomyelitis on the Surgical Management and Outcomes of Pressure Ulcers

Despite advances in imaging technology, it is unclear whether preoperative MRI diagnosis of osteomyelitis influences surgical management and improves surgical outcome. The purpose of this retrospective study was to determine whether preoperative diagnosis of osteomyelitis by pelvic MRI influenced the surgical management of pressure sores and flap outcomes. The characteristics, pre- and intraoperative management, and surgical outcomes of the most recent flap surgery in 2 groups were compared: 26 patients diagnosed with osteomyelitis by preoperative MRI and 21 patients diagnosed by culture growth from an intraoperative bone specimen postoperatively. Patients with osteomyelitis diagnosed by MRI had 10 ulcer recurrences at the same site (39%) versus 6 (29%) among patients with osteomyelitis diagnosed by bone culture (odds ratio = 2.4, P = 0.22). We found that patients with a diagnostic preoperative MRI did not differ significantly in rates of antibiotic administration, ostectomy, dehiscence, revision, or infection.