## 3 Results  
Table 1 presents the basic population characteristics overall and by group according to the site of affection. Characteristics were noted in the outpatient clinic upon admission, including type of diabetes mellitus, presence of Charcot neuroarthropathy, and history of other significant extremity amputation. Additionally, other diseases were documented such as arterial hypertension, hyperlipidemia, and chronic kidney disease. Upon suspicion  
of significant peripheral artery disease, an angiological assessment was performed prior to surgery to exclude major macrocirculatory issues.  
All cases were observed over the follow-up period. Upon follow-up, detailed clinical examination and X-ray studies were performed as well as laboratory testing as per clinical assessment of the clinician conducting the follow-up. During follow-up, pre- and intraoperatively obtained microbiological results were reviewed. Table 2 displays the most frequently isolated microorganisms.  
No patient suffered recidivant infection or complication due to material insertion (such as a hypersensitivity reaction) requiring surgical treatment within the first 30-day follow-up period post-operation. Out of the cases included, one patient suffered a complication involving the affected joint during the follow-up period. The other patients did not suffer any recidive of osteomyelitisitis that would require reoperation during the follow-up period.  
\begin{table}
\begin{tabular}{c c c c c} \hline \hline
**Patient Characteristics** & \begin{tabular}{c} **Overall** \\ _(n = 16)_ \\ \end{tabular} & \begin{tabular}{c} **Group A—MTP** \\ **Joints (_n = 8)** \\ \end{tabular} & \
\begin{tabular}{c} **Group B—Midfoot** \\ _(n = 4)_ \\ \end{tabular} &
\begin{tabular}{c} **Group C—Ankle** \\ _(n = 4)_ \\ \end{tabular} \\ \hline Sex (male/female) & 15/1 & 8/0 & 4/0 & 3/1 \\ \hline Age (mean \(\pm\) SD) & 61.0 & 62.3 & 55.8 & 63.8 \\  & 8.85 & 8.50 & 9.54 & 9.03 \\ \hline Diabetes mellitus (type I/ II) & 2/14 & 1/7 & 1/3 & 0/4 \\ \hline Charcot neuroarthropathy (_n_; \%) & 10 & 4 & 3 & 3 \\  & 62.5\% & 50.0\% & 75\% & 75\% \\ \hline Arterial hypertension (_n_; \%) & 13 & 6 & 3 & 4 \\  & 81.3\% & 75.0\% & 75\% & 100\% \\ \hline Hyperlipidemia (_n_; \%) & 7 & 4 & 3 & 0 \\  & 43.8\% & 50.0\% & 75.0\% & 0\% \\ \hline Chronic kidney disease (_n_; \%) & 1 & 1 & 0 & 0 \\  & 6.3\% & 12.5\% & 0\% & 0\% \\ \hline Previous or other foot surgery/amputation (_n_; \%) & 5 & 1 & 3 & 1 \\  & 35.3\% & 12.5\% & 75.0\% & 25.0\% \\ \hline \hline \end{tabular}
\end{table}
Table 1: Patient population: demographic information and characteristics.  
\begin{table}
\begin{tabular}{c c c c c} \hline \hline
**Bacteria Isolated** & \begin{tabular}{c} **Overall** \\ _(n = 16)_ \\ \end{tabular} & \begin{tabular}{c} **Group** \\ **A—MTP** \\ **Joints (_n = 8)** \\ \end{tabular} & \
\begin{tabular}{c} **Group** \\ **B—Midfoot** \\ _(n = 4)_ \\ \end{tabular} &
\begin{tabular}{c} **Group** \\ **C—Ankle** \\ _(n = 4)_ \\ \end{tabular} \\ \hline _Staphylococcus aureus_ & 5 & 3 & 1 & 1 \\ \hline MRSA & 1 & 1 & 0 & 0 \\ \hline Other Staphylococcus & 6 & 3 & 2 & 1 \\ \hline _Pseudomonas aeruginosa_ & 3 & 1 & 1 & 1 \\ \hline _Corynebacterium_ spp. & 6 & 3 & 0 & 3 \\ \hline _Enterobacterium cloacae_ & 6 & 2 & 2 & 2 \\ \hline _Enterococcus faecalis_ & 4 & 3 & 0 & 1 \\ \hline Anaerobic bacteria & 7 & 5 & 1 & 1 \\ \hline MRSA—methicillin-resistant _Staphylococcus aureus_. & & & & \\ \hline \hline \end{tabular}
\end{table}
Table 2: Microbiological results of intraoperatively obtained bone samples and adjacent soft tissue samples.