Special Considerations in the Management of Osteomyelitis Defects (Diabetes, the Ischemic or Dysvascular Bed, and Irradiation)

Although osteomyelitis is a difficult problem, certain conditions make it even more difficult to address. Diabetes, peripheral vascular disease, and radiation are all comorbidities that interfere with wound healing and therefore make the treatment of osteomyelitis challenging. In this article, we discuss these conditions, their pathophysiology, and highlight the special considerations in treating osteomyelitis in patients with these comorbidities. KEYWORDS Osteomyelitis - diabetes - peripheral vascular disease - radiation - wound healing