Surgical burden of osteomyelitis and factors associated with chronic disease in a rural district of Rwanda

This mixed-methods study assessed the prevalence of osteomyelitis-related surgical procedures and factors associated with chronic osteomyelitis in a rural district of Rwanda. Among 385 analysed surgical cases, 27.8% were related to osteomyelitis, indicating that more than one in four surgical procedures were attributable to this condition. Most patients presented with chronic disease, reflecting substantial delays in diagnosis and referral. Quantitative and qualitative findings identified three key domains associated with chronic osteomyelitis: lack of disease-related knowledge at primary healthcare level, limited awareness among patients and caregivers, and insufficient cooperation between healthcare structures. These results underscore the clinical and socioeconomic relevance of early diagnosis to prevent progression to chronic osteomyelitis.