Most cases of osteomyelitis caused by staphylococcus bacteria, a bacteria commonly found on the skin or in the nose even healthy people.

Define

Osteomyelitis is the medical term for infection of the bone. Infections can reach by going through bone or blood spread from the surrounding tissues. Osteomyelitis can also start in itself reveal bone injury if exposed to germs.

In children, osteomyelitis most commonly affects the long bones of the legs and upper arms, while adults are more likely to develop osteomyelitis of the spine (vertebrae). People with diabetes can develop osteomyelitis of the foot where the foot ulcer.

Most require surgery to remove the bone is dead, then treated with strong antibiotics, usually transmitted   vein, at least six weeks.

The symptoms

Signs and Symptoms of osteomyelitis include:

Fever or chills.

Discomfort or coma in young children.

Pain in the infected area.

Swelling, heat and redness in the area of infection.

Sometimes osteomyelitis not cause signs and symptoms or signs and symptoms are difficult to distinguish from other problems.

Asked if health care workers experience bone pain with fever worse. If there is risk of infection because of a medical condition or injury or surgery recently, see a doctor immediately if you notice the signs and symptoms of infection.

Cause

Most cases of osteomyelitis caused by staphylococcus bacteria, a bacteria commonly found on the skin or in the nose even healthy people.

Germs can enter the bone in a variety of ways, including:

Through the blood vessels. The bacteria in other parts of the body - for example, from pneumonia or urinary tract infections can go through the blood to the bone weakened position. In children, osteomyelitis occurs in the software sector, called growth plates at the ends of long bones of the arms and legs.

From a nearby infection. Serious puncture wounds can carry germs to deep inside the body. If the injury infection, the bacteria can spread to nearby bones.

Direct infection. It may occur if severe fractures and part of it out of the skin. Direct pollution can also occur during surgical joint replacement or repair of fractures.

The risk factors

Normal bone resistant infections. For osteomyelitis occurs, the situation in which the bones vulnerable must be present.

Recent trauma or orthopedic surgery

Serious fractures or deep puncture wound infections help a route to the bone or tissue nearby. Surgery to repair or replace broken bones and joints may inadvertently open a pathway for bacteria to the bone.

Circulation problems

Blood vessels are damaged or clogged, the body distribution of infection-fighting cells needed to keep a small infection does not grow larger. It makes a small cut can evolve into a deep ulcer may be exposed to deep tissue and bone infections. The disease reduces blood circulation include:

Diabetes.

Peripheral arterial disease, often related to smoking.

Sickle cell disease.

Invasive medical tube

Health tube connected to the external organs. The tube is often medically necessary, but can also make way for bacteria in the body. Invasive medical tubes that increase the risk of infections in general, can lead to osteomyelitis. Examples include:

Hemodialysis.

Urinary catheter.

Save intravenous tube length, sometimes called central venous lines, it is possible to implant in the body for months or years.

Intravenous drug

People who use intravenous drugs can develop osteomyelitis, because often use nonsterile needles and did not disinfect the skin before injections.

Complications

Bone death (necrosis). An infection in the bone may obstruct blood flow in the bone, leading to bone death. Bone healing after surgical removal of a small portion of the bone dies. If a large portion of the bone is dead, however, may require surgical removal costs to prevent the spread of infection.

Septic arthritis. In some cases, the infection can spread to the bone joints nearby.

Impaired growth. In children, the most common location for osteomyelitis in the softer areas, called growth plates at the ends of long bones of the arms and legs. Normal growth can be interrupted in the infected bone.

Cancer of the skin. If osteomyelitis was open drain pus, skin around high-risk developing squamous cell carcinoma.

Tests and diagnosis

Your doctor may require a combination of tests and procedures to diagnose osteomyelitis and to identify the bacteria causing the infection.

Blood tests

Blood tests may reveal high levels of white blood cells (leukocytes) and other factors that may indicate that the body is fighting an infection. If osteomyelitis is caused by an infection in the blood test may reveal bacteria. No blood tests exist to answer yes or no osteomyelitis. However, blood tests provide clues that doctors use to determine more tests and procedures that may be necessary.

Check image

X-rays. X-ray may reveal bone loss. However, the damage may not be visible until osteomyelitis was present in a few weeks. Check out more detailed images may be needed if osteomyelitis has developed recently.

Computerized tomography (CT). CT scan combines X-ray images taken from many different angles, create detailed cross-sectional view of the internal structure of a person.

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Using radio waves and a strong magnetic field, MRI can produce detailed images of bones and particularly the soft tissues around them.

Bone biopsy

Bone biopsy is the gold standard for the diagnosis of osteomyelitis, because it can reveal pathogens causing bone infection. Know bacteria allows physicians choose an antibiotic that is particularly good for this type of infection. Open biopsy requires anesthesia and surgery to access the bone. In some cases, a surgeon inserts a long needle through the skin and into the bone biopsy. This procedure requires a local anesthetic to numb the needle into the area.

Treatments and drugs

The common treatment for osteomyelitis is antibiotics and surgery to remove the infected or dead bone.

Drug

Bone biopsy will reveal the type of bacteria causing the infection, your doctor may choose a particularly good antibiotics for infections. The commonly used antibiotics through a vein in the arm for at least six weeks. Side effects may include nausea, vomiting and diarrhea.

Surgery

Depending on the severity of the infection, osteomyelitis surgery may include one or more of the following procedures:

Taking care of the infected area. Open areas around the infected bone allows surgeons drainage of pus or fluid accumulated in response to infection.

Remove bones and diseased tissue. The surgeon removes the diseased bones can, get a little margin of healthy bone to ensure that all infected areas have been eliminated. Surrounding tissue showed signs of infection may be removed.

Restoring blood flow to the bone. The surgeon can graft a piece of bone or other tissues in the box, such as skin or muscle from another part of the body. Sometimes temporary fillers are placed in the bag until healthy enough to undergo a bone graft, grafts. Pairing help the body repair damaged blood vessels and new bone formation.

Remove any extraneous. In some cases, foreign objects, such as surgery or broken screws are placed in a previous surgery, may have to be removed.

Cut costs. As a last resort, the surgeon may remove the affected limb to prevent the further spread of infection.

Prevention

If you have been told there is an increased risk of infection, talk with your doctor about how to prevent infection occurs. Reduce the risk of infection will also reduce the risk of developing osteomyelitis. In general, preventive measures to avoid cuts and scratches, which provides easy access bacteria in the body. If there are any cuts and scratches, clean the area immediately and apply a clean bandage. Regularly check the wound for signs of infection.