Foot Bone Disease

Foot bone disease, also known as pedal osteomyelitis, is an infection resulting in inflammation of the bone and marrow of the feet due to a fungal or bacteria infection. Pedal osteomyelitis is divided into three categories (hematogenous, contiguous, and vascular) according to the cause of infection and can be acute or chronic. Treatment includes antibiotic treatments or surgery, depending on the level and severity of infection.

Cause and Classification

• Hematogenous osteomyelitis results from an infection of the soft tissue which passes through the blood and infects the bone. Contiguous osteomyelitis is when external bacteria or fungi infects bone vulnerable from recent trauma or surgery. Vascular osteomyelitis classifies death of bone tissue due to poor circulation conditions.

Acute vs. Chronic

• Acute pedal osteomyelitis is the most common form, caused by bacterial infection passed from the blood stream to vulnerable bone, and can last several weeks to months. Chronic pedal osteomyelitis results from death of bone tissue due to loss of blood supply and can last several months to years.

Symptoms

• Symptoms of an acute condition include abrupt fever, irritability and fatigue, pain, swelling, and redness in the infected foot. Symptoms of a chronic condition include fever, chronic fatigue, leakage from open wounds, pain, swelling, redness, and tenderness of the infected foot.

Treatment

• Antibiotics are often administered over a period of weeks to months, depending on the severity of infection, to treat the bacteria causing the infection. Surgery is also a form of treatment to remove dead bone tissue which is then filled by bone graft or packing to promote growth of new bone tissue.

High Risk Groups

• Some high risk groups to pedal osteomyelitis include IV drug users, diabetics with non-healing wounds and poor circulation, individuals with immune disorders, or people recovering from recent foot surgery or trauma.

Progression and Complications

• Delayed or non-treatment of this condition can result in progression and further complications. The infection can become more severe and spread to other parts of the body. A more aggressive antibiotic treatment and amputation of infected areas may be required as a form of treatment.