Abstract: Introduction: Bone infections is a bacterial implant in bone matrix. The aim of this study was to describe the clinical, therapeutic and evolutionary aspects of osteoarticular infections at Kara University Hospital.
Patients and Methods: This was a retrospective, descriptive study conducted at Kara University Hospital (Togo) over a three-year period, from 1 January 2020 to 31 December 2022. It included the records of all patients over 15 years of age treated for an acute or chronic bone or joint infection in the traumatology-orthopaedics department of the said centre. The parameters studied were age, sex, clinical form and site of infection, germs isolated, treatment administered and evolution. Evaluation was carried out after a minimum follow-up of one year.
Results: Osteoarticular infections accounted for 3.4% of hospital admissions. The average age of the patients was 39, with extremes of 17 and 82. 36 were men (82%) and 8 women (18%). Osteoarticular infections were dominated by acute post-traumatic infections: osteitis (52%), gangrene (16%) and surgical site infections (14%). The risk factor for post-traumatic infections was late consultation, due to the patient's stay with a traditherapist. Surgical site infections occurred in patients operated on after at least 2 weeks, with an operating time of more than 2 hours. Most of the osteoarticular infections were in the lower limbs. Staphylococcus aureus was present, isolated or associated with other bacteria, in 56% of cases. In 65% of cases, there were at least two germs. A single germ was isolated in 35% of cases. The germs isolated were multi-resistant in the majority of cases (85%, n=29). Surgical treatment combined with antibiotic therapy resulted in a 44% success rate.
Conclusion: Post-traumatic osteitis is the most common osteoarticular infection at Kara University Hospital. Their management is difficult, with disappointing results.
