Date Thorne Osteomyelitis of Lower Extremity in Bare Foot Walkers: 5 Cases

Author(s): Dr. Santosh Kumar Sahu and Dr. Khusbu Parichha

Abstract: Foreign body injuries with date thorns, is common in developing countries like India, where walking barefoot is common, thus making the feet vulnerable to various trivial injuries. Some of the injuries lead to cellulitis or abscess formation, if neglected or improperly managed results in osteomyelitis of foot structures, usually involving the tarsal or metatarsals, in countries with limited resources, the emphasis should be on clinical assessment for diagnosis, and good surgical technique for treatment. We report 5 patients with thorn prick osteomyelitis of the foot following barefoot walking. After thorough investigation, all were treated with thorn removal, surgical debridement, and oral ofloxacin and the materials were sent for HPE & CSE. Only one of the 5 cases showed growth of microorganisms. Surgical removal of the thorn is the key to successful treatment and to avoid recurrent infection.