Procalcitonin as a Diagnostic Marker for Osteomyelitis in Patients with Pressure Injuries: A Retrospective Study.

OBJECTIVE

To assess the diagnostic potential of procalcitonin in identifying osteomyelitis in patients with pressure injuries (PIs).

METHODS

The authors conducted a retrospective study of 21 patients with PIs from 2017 to 2022. Inflammatory markers (white blood cell count, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, C-reactive protein, procalcitonin) and radiologic images were analyzed to determine osteomyelitis presence. Patients were divided into osteomyelitis-positive and osteomyelitis-negative groups, with marker levels compared statistically.

RESULTS

Both C-reactive protein and procacitonin levels were significantly higher in the osteomyelitis group ( P s = .05). Elevated procalcitonin (>0.5) indicated a 10.67 times higher likelihood of osteomyelitis.

CONCLUSIONS

Procalcitonin may serve as a valuable marker for diagnosing osteomyelitis in patients with PIs, aiding in early detection and treatment planning. Further research with larger cohorts is needed to confirm its diagnostic and monitoring potential.