Concordance of Microbiological and Histopathological Examination of Bone Biopsies in Diagnosing Diabetic Foot Osteomyelitis, a Systematic Review.

backgroundDiabetic foot osteomyelitis (DFO) is a serious complication of diabetic foot ulcers and is associated with increased risk of amputation, morbidity, and mortality. Bone biopsy remains the most definitive diagnostic modality, yet controversy persists over its diagnostic utility This study reviews the diagnostic concordance of histopathology and microbiology in bone biopsy specimens from patients with DFO and examines the clinical implications of the findings.

methodsA systematic review was conducted using PubMed, Medline, CINHAL, Cochrane Library, and Google Scholar. Studies included adult patients with DFO in whom bone biopsy specimens underwent both histopathological and microbiological analysis. Five core studies met the eligibility criteria. Data on study design, setting, population, diagnostic methods, concordance rates, and outcomes were extracted and synthesized utilising a quantitative narrative synthesis.

resultsAcross the five studies (n = 308 patients), histopathology and microbiology showed modest concordance, with mean rates of concordant positive results of 43.4% and common discordant findings. Histopathology demonstrated higher specificity, while microbiology had higher sensitivity, ranging from 70% to 83.9% but greater susceptibility to contamination. Positive histopathology was more strongly associated with the need for revision surgery or extended antibiotic therapy. DISCUSSION: Histopathology appears to offer superior diagnostic specificity, whereas microbiology provides valuable information for antimicrobial management. Frequent discordance underscores the importance of interpreting results in a clinical context. Further robust, prospective studies are needed to clarify the optimal diagnostic approach and standardise definitions.