Residual osteomyelitis at the resection margin after conservative surgery is not associated with the recurrence of diabetic foot infection and may successfully be treated without postoperative antibiotic therapy.

Aims: We hypothesize that microbiology- and pathology-confirmed positive bone margins after the resection of diabetes-related foot osteomyelitis are associated with worse outcomes.

Methods: We conducted a prospective study consisting of a cohort of 93 patients with diabetes-related foot osteomyelitis (histopathology confirmed) who underwent bone resection and where an additional bone biopsy was taken at the resection margin. The primary outcome was the recurrence of the infection.