The most common site of infection is the metaphysis, which is the narrow portion of the long bone). In adults, the bones of the spinal column (vertebra) are often affected.
In children, the long bones of the arms or legs are most often involved. In adults, the feet, spine bones (vertebrae), and hips (pelvis) are most commonly affected.
What is osteomyelitis? Osteomyelitis is an infection that usually causes pain in the long bones in the legs. Other bones, such as those in the back or arms, can also be affected. Anyone can develop osteomyelitis.
Acute hematogenous osteomyelitis (AHO) is particularly common in children <5 years of age and typically affects the metaphysis because of the rich but slow blood flow of the growing bone.
Osteomyelitis is inflammation or swelling that occurs in the bone. It can result from an infection somewhere else in the body that has spread to the bone, or it can start in the bone — often as a result of an injury.
In children, the infection is more likely to affect long bones, such as those found in the legs and arms. In adults, bone infections more often target the spine.
Open upper extremity fractures with severe soft-tissue damage have the highest risk of developing osteomyelitis.
Chronic osteomyelitis is more common in males and in the age group from 41–50 years of age. Common infection sites are the femur, tibiofibular, and hip joint.
Statistically, the tibia is the most common site for chronic osteomyelitis to occur [7, 12], partially because of its poor blood supply (especially inferior third of tibia), inadequate coverage in the medial surface, higher risk of injuries, and of course, the inappropriate surgical managements.
The infection spreads to the bone after several days or weeks. This type of spread is particularly likely to occur in older people. Such an infection may start in an area damaged by an injury or surgery, radiation therapy, or cancer or in a skin ulcer (particularly a foot ulcer) caused by poor circulation or diabetes.
Blood tests may reveal elevated levels of white blood cells and other factors that may indicate that your body is fighting an infection. If osteomyelitis is caused by an infection in the blood, tests may reveal which germs are to blame. No blood test can tell your doctor whether you do or don't have osteomyelitis.
Late onset osteomyelitis could occur up to 30 years after an initial complex fracture as an outburst of chronic silent osteomyelitis.
Osteomyelitis is a common benign illness that mimics the symptoms of osteosarcoma.
The hallmark of chronic osteomyelitis is the presence of dead bone (sequestrum).
Acute osteomyelitis typically presents two weeks after bone infection, characterised by inflammatory bone changes. By contrast, chronic osteomyelitis typically presents six or more weeks after bone infection and is characterised by the presence of bone destruction and formation of sequestra.
Acute osteomyelitis typically refers to an infection of less than 1 month's duration, whereas chronic osteomyelitis refers to infection that lasts longer than 4 weeks.
Smokers and people with chronic health conditions, such as diabetes or kidney failure, are more at risk of developing osteomyelitis. People who have diabetes may develop osteomyelitis in their feet if they have foot ulcers.
Osteomyelitis is most common in young kids under age 5. But it can happen at any age. Boys get it almost twice as often as girls do. Some children have a higher risk of developing osteomyelitis, such as those with a weak immune system or chronic conditions like sickle cell disease.
Results: Osteomyelitis usually requires some antibiotic treatment, usually administered systemically but sometimes supplemented by antibiotic-containing beads or cement. Acute hematogenous osteomyelitis can be treated with antibiotics alone.
The earliest finding of acute osteomyelitis on MRI is an alteration of the normal marrow signal intensity, which can be appreciated as early as 1 to 2 days after the onset of infection; the edema and exudates within the medullary space produce an ill-defined low-signal intensity on the T1-weighted images and a high ...
This is called osteomyelitis and is signified with pain in the jaw and face, facial swelling, and fever. Antibiotics can be used to resolve the infection but if you do not receive treatment in a timely manner, part of the jaw bone can actually begin to die.