ObjectiveTo establish a rabbit model of chronic suppurative osteomyelitis of the mandible. Methods Twenty-two healthy New Zealand rabbits were used in this study. 0.1 mL 5% sodium morrhuate and 0.1 mL 5.0×10⁸CFU/mL suspension of Staphylococcus aureus were injected into the bone window in the lateral side of mandible body near the middle joint of the mandible. Clinical, cone beam CT (CBCT), bacteriological and histopathological examinations of the mandibles were performed at 16 weeks after infection.ResultsAll rabbits showed poor mental health, and fistulae and purulent secretion were seen in the early period after infection. Dual-energy X-ray examination showed no significant changes of the bone mineral density (BMD) in the surgical area (P >0.05). CBCT detected a blurred edge of the bone defects and signs of bone destruction. Staphylococcus aureus growth was detected in the surgical area. Pathological examination showed infiltration of lymphocytes, neutrophils and plasma cells, and sequestration. ConclusionsA model of chronic osteomyelitis can be successfully established by injection of sodium morrhuate and Staphylococcus aureus suspension into the bone window in the lateral side of mandible body near to the middle joint in rabbits. 