Treatment of chronic osteomyelitis secondary to hydatid disease of bone using gentamycin beads.

Hydatid disease of bone is rare. It remains asymptomatic over a long period. It is usually detected after a pathological fracture or secondary infection or following the onset of compressive myelopathy in cases of vertebral lesions. Secondary infection of hydatid disease of bone could be difficult to treat. The authors present a case of chronic osteomyelitis of the proximal aspect of the left femur in a 37-year-old male patient secondary to hydatid disease of bone. It was treated by aggressive debridement, gentamycin beads, and bone graft to fill the defect. No recurrence of the hydatid lesion or infection was detected after 2 years. This case showed that in addition to aggressive debridement, gentamycin beads may be valuable in eradicating the infection in such a case.