Decompression Effects on Suppurative and Sclerosing Osteomyelitis in the Jaw

Background: Osteomyelitis (OM) of the jaw is usually caused by a chronic odontogenic infection. Decompression is the release the intraluminal pressure in the cystic cavity allowing gradual bone growth from the periphery. The aim of this study was to analyze the effectiveness of decompression in an OM jaw model. Methods: : A 4-mm-diameter defect was made on mandibles of fourteen Sprague-Dawley rats and inoculated with S. aureus (20 μl of 1x10 7 CFU/ml) injection. Two weeks later, four groups were made as non-treatment (C1), only curettage (C2), curettage and decompression (E1), and curettage and decompression with normal saline irrigation (E2). After four weeks, each group was analyzed. Results: : Most micro-CT parameters of C1 and C2 were significantly lower, and bone mineral density with bone volume was enhanced in E2. E1 and E2 groups in histology showed prominent bone healing with a significantly high number of osteocytes, E2 had the weakest expression of IL-6 compared to that of C1. TNF-α and OPN were expressed strongly in the E1. Conclusion: Decompression drains induced advanced bone healing compared to that of curettage alone in an OM jaw model. Therefore, it could be recommended to use decompressive drain for the enhancement of jaw OM management.