APWCA

In the United States, osteomyelitis is commonly treated with surgical resection of the osseous tissue involved. Are there cases where overly aggressive or premature resection risks limb loss above that from the infection itself? If so, where is the line drawn? What indicators should clinicians look for?

In other parts of the world, osteomyelitis is much more commonly treated with drug therapy, with outcomes shown to be equivalent to those achieved in the United States. This raises many questions. Is the surgical approach to treatment in the United States somewhat influenced by insurance reimbursement? What is the quality of the outcome studies performed in other countries? Are the results of less-aggressive treatment truly equivalent to those associated with resection of the infected bone?

The American Professional Wound Care Association's (APWCA) upcoming fifth national clinical conference, "Wound Care and the Related Sciences," will feature an open panel discussion and debate on this topic on Saturday, April 8, 2006, at the Wyndham Philadelphia Hotel at Franklin Plaza, Philadelphia, PA. Featured speakers will include Kshitij Shankhdhar, MD, FAPWCA, India; Michael Edmonds, MD, United Kingdom; Gary Sibbald, MD, FAPWCA, Canada; and Peter Sheehan, MD, and Robert Frykberg, DPM, MPH, FAPWCA, United States.

Steven Kravitz, DPM, FAPWCA, the conference General Chair and moderator of the panel, said that it has taken a few years to put together an international faculty to engage in this debate and raise these important issues. "We will not be able to fully resolve the question, but this will open up our minds to look at the broader picture and certainly challenge that which we have accepted in the past."

A 1-day registration is available for those who cannot attend the entire conference but would like to attend this debate. The full conference runs April 6-9, 2006.

[black up pointing small triangle]Information:http://www.apwca.org; 215-364-4100.