Does This Patient With Diabetes Have Osteomyelitis of the Lower Extremity?

The article focuses on research which was done to determine the accuracy of historical features, physical examination, and laboratory testing which is done on diabetic patients who have symptoms of osteomyelitis of the lower extremity. Researchers examined English language articles published between 1966 and 2007 which were related to osteomyelitis in patients with diabetes and were found on MEDLINE. They found that the best diagnostic tool is bone biopsy and that an ulcer area of a certain size, a positive probe to bone test result, an erythrocyte sedimentation rate of more than 70 mm/h, and an abnormal plain radiograph result are helpful in diagnosing osteomyelitis.