Osteomyelitis Definition

Osteomyelitis is an infection in a bone. This condition happens when a bacterial or fungal infection travels from your bloodstream or other tissues in your body and enters your bones. The infection can also start in the affected bone if it has been exposed to germs by trauma. Bones commonly affected by infection are the leg bones, upper arm bones, spine and pelvis. Osteomyelitis can last several months or less (called an acute form), or several months to years (called a chronic form). This condition is serious and requires aggressive treatment to stop the spread of infection.

Symptoms

• Osteomyelitis may not produce signs or symptoms. Acute osteomyelitis can present with signs and symptoms such as pain in the affected area, sudden fever, lethargy or irritability in young children, and redness, warmth or swelling over the affected area. Chronic osteomyelitis signs and symptoms can include tenderness or pain in the affected area, fever, chronic fatigue, drainage from an open wound near the affected area, and redness, warmth and swelling over the infected area. If you have signs or symptoms of osteomyelitis, you should contact your physician immediately for an evaluation.

Types

• There are four types of osteomyelitis. One type of osteomyelitis can result from an infection that travels to your bone through your bloodstream, and this type affects more children than adults. This infection can start in a mild fashion such as a urinary tract infection (UTI) or upper respiratory tract infection. Another type of osteomyelitis can result after an injury or surgery where the bones or nearby tissue were exposed to bacteria or fungi.

  Infections in people with decreased or poor circulation can cause another type osteomyelitis. Their bodied are unable to repair minor cuts in areas of poor circulation, causing a larger wound that can infect the bones. Vertebral osteomyelitis is a bone infection in the spine and more commonly affects older adults over 50 years of age.

Risks

• Osteomyelitis is more common in men than women. Children are more prone to the acute form. Other people at a higher risk for osteomyelitis are those with poor circulation such as diabetics; people with peripheral neuropathy; those who have had a recent trauma like a broken bone or deep puncture wound; people who underwent orthopedic surgery; and people who are at an increased risk of infections, such as those on dialysis or who regularly use urinary catheters.

Diagnosis

• Your physician will base an osteomyelitis diagnosis on a physical exam and may order additional tests such as a blood test, X-ray, bone biopsy and computerized tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and bone scan. Not all tests will be indicated for all types of osteomyelitis.

Treatment

• Your physician will decide the best course of treatment for your type of osteomyelitis. Osteomyelitis is treated with antibiotics and possibly surgery. Your physician will decide which type of bacteria or fungi is causing your infection and order antibiotics based on that microorganism. Antibiotics may need to be taken as little as four weeks or perhaps for the rest of your life. Surgical intervention is aimed at draining the infected area, removing diseased tissue and bone, restoring blood flow to the bone and removing foreign objects, such as surgical screws, that may be contaminated by the microorganism.