Generality
Osteomyelitis is an infectious process that affects bones and bone marrow simultaneously. The infection is sustained by bacteria that induce the production of pus, such as staphylococci and streptococci.
Osteomyelitis occurs more often in the shoulder and knee, and more generally in bones rich in cancellous tissue and therefore richly vascularized.
The diagnosis makes use of instrumental tests such as bone scintigraphy and magnetic resonance imaging. By injecting the patient with leukocytes traced with radioactive material, but not dangerous for his health, the marked white blood cells go to concentrate in the bone areas affected by osteomyelitis; a subsequent X-ray will therefore be able to localize the infectious process, since the regions rich in labeled leukocytes will appear as a hyper-transparent area.
Causes
The microorganisms responsible for osteomyelitis can colonize the bone and its marrow following a serious (exposed) invoice, a surgical operation performed in conditions of poor hygiene, a deep cut wound, or migrate from an infectious outbreak through blood flow (tonsillitis, otitis, pharyngitis, boils).
We recall that a fracture is defined exposed when there is laceration of the skin and external exposure of the bone; to prevent the appearance of a chronic form of osteomyelitis, immediate treatment in the surgical environment is required. While waiting for medical help it is important to wash with physiological and medicate the wound, then cover it with sterile gauze or clean tissue; in any case the exposed bone fragments should never be moved.
Symptoms
To learn more: Symptoms Osteomyelitis
Acute osteomyelitis begins with severe pain, exacerbated by pressure, reduced mobility of the affected segment, fever, redness and swelling; sometimes cutaneous fistulas may appear from which pus comes out.
Chronic osteomyelitis may arise as a result of the acute process or begin almost imperceptibly; tuberculosis and syphilis are occasional causes.
Care
The treatment of osteomyelitis is based on antibiotic therapy, often drastic and prolonged over time, possibly associated with analgesics to control pain. The first therapeutic approach involves the administration of broad-spectrum antibiotics, that is active against all pathogens; subsequently the antibiotic therapy will be performed in targeted mode, after having evaluated the results of the laboratory tests performed to identify the bacterial species responsible for the infection.
In chronic cases, it may be necessary to resort to surgery to remove the infected pathological material. This is because, if not eradicated in time, osteomyelitis could cause bone shortening and the appearance of skeletal deformities.
Drugs for the treatment of osteomyelitis »
