Diagnosis was established based on a combination of clinical (persistent pain, sinus tract, purulent discharge, local inflammatory signs, abnormal mobility), radiological (sequestrum, bone lysis, periosteal reaction, implant loosening), laboratory (elevated erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), C-reactive protein (CRP), leukocytosis), and microbiological findings where available. Here, CRP is linked to Increased total leukocyte count.