Intraoperative tissue sampling for histology in chronic osteomyelitis shows high neutrophil infiltration centrally and low remains in debrided presumed infection-free regions.

The inflammatory response of CO still exists after debridement, although the response fades from the center. Therefore, sampling of debrided bone tissue for histology must be performed initially during surgery, otherwise there is a risk for underestimation of NP infiltration. The present results might also be highly relevant for FRI and PJI.