Chronic osteomyelitis from contiguous soft Rt
issue infection is becoming more common Rb
ecause of the increasing prevalence of dia-Rb
etic foot infections and peripheral vascular Rd
isease. Up to one-half of patients with dia-Rb
etes develop peripheral neuropathy, which Rm
ay reduce their awareness of wounds and Ri
ncrease the risk of unrecognized infections.R1
3R
RP
eripheral vascular disease, which is also Rc
ommon in patients with diabetes, reduces Rt
he body’s healing response and contributes Rt
o chronically open wounds and subsequent Rs
oft tissue infection. These conditions may Ra
ct synergistically to significantly increase the Rr
isk of osteomyelitis in these patients