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 debridement, 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.