Osteomyelitis (patient information): Difference between revisions
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'''For the WikiDoc page | '''For the WikiDoc page on Osteomyelitis, click [[Osteomyelitis|here]]''' | ||
'''For the WikiDoc page on Vertebral osteomyelitis, click [[Vertebral osteomyelitis|here]]''' | |||
{{Osteomyelitis (patient information)}} | {{Osteomyelitis (patient information)}} | ||
{{CMG}} | {{CMG}} | ||
==Overview== | ==Overview== | ||
Osteomyelitis is an acute or chronic bone infection. | Osteomyelitis is an acute or chronic [[bone]] [[infection]]. | ||
==What are the symptoms of Osteomyelitis?== | ==What are the symptoms of Osteomyelitis?== | ||
Bone pain | *Bone pain | ||
Fever | *[[Fever]] | ||
General discomfort, uneasiness, or ill-feeling (malaise) | *General discomfort, uneasiness, or ill-feeling ([[malaise]]) | ||
Local swelling, redness, and warmth | *Local swelling, redness, and warmth | ||
Other symptoms that may occur with this disease: | Other symptoms that may occur with this disease: | ||
Chills | *[[Chills]] | ||
Excessive sweating | *[[Excessive sweating]] | ||
Low back pain | *[[Low back pain]] | ||
Swelling of the ankles, feet, and legs | *Swelling of the ankles, feet, and legs | ||
==What causes Osteomyelitis?== | ==What causes Osteomyelitis?== | ||
Bone infection can be caused by bacteria (more common) or fungi (less common). | *Bone infection can be caused by [[bacteria]] (more common) or [[fungi]] (less common). | ||
Infection may spread to a bone from infected skin, muscles, or tendons next to the bone, as in osteomyelitis that occurs under a chronic skin ulcer (sore). | *Infection may spread to a bone from infected skin, muscles, or tendons next to the bone, as in osteomyelitis that occurs under a chronic skin [[ulcer]] (sore). | ||
The infection that causes osteomyelitis can also start in another part of the body and spread to the bone through the blood. | *The [[infection]] that causes osteomyelitis can also start in another part of the body and spread to the bone through the blood. | ||
A current or past injury may have made the affected bone more likely to develop the infection. A bone infection can also start after bone surgery, especially if the surgery is done after an injury or if metal rods or plates are placed in the bone. | *A current or past injury may have made the affected bone more likely to develop the infection. A bone infection can also start after bone [[surgery]], especially if the surgery is done after an injury or if metal rods or plates are placed in the bone. | ||
In children, the long bones are usually affected. In adults, the feet, spine bones (vertebrae), and the hips (pelvis) are most commonly affected. | *In children, the long bones are usually affected. In adults, the feet, spine bones ([[vertebrae]]), and the hips ([[pelvis]]) are most commonly affected. | ||
==Who is at highest risk?== | ==Who is at highest risk?== | ||
Diabetes | *[[Diabetes]] | ||
Hemodialysis | *[[Hemodialysis]] | ||
Injected drug use | *Injected drug use | ||
Poor blood supply | *Poor blood supply | ||
Recent trauma | *Recent trauma | ||
People who have had their spleen removed are also at higher risk for osteomyelitis. | *People who have had their spleen removed are also at higher risk for osteomyelitis. | ||
==When to seek urgent medical care?== | ==When to seek urgent medical care?== | ||
Call your health care provider if: | Call your [[health care provider]] if: | ||
You develop symptoms of osteomyelitis | *You develop symptoms of osteomyelitis | ||
You have osteomyelitis and the symptoms continue despite treatment | *You have osteomyelitis and the symptoms continue despite treatment | ||
==Diagnosis== | ==Diagnosis== | ||
A physical examination shows bone tenderness and possibly swelling and redness. | A physical examination shows bone tenderness and possibly swelling and redness. | ||
Tests may include: | Tests may include: | ||
*Blood | *[[Blood culture]]s | ||
*Bone biopsy (which is then cultured) | *Bone [[biopsy]] (which is then cultured) | ||
*Bone scan | *[[Bone scan]] | ||
*Bone x-ray | *Bone x-ray | ||
*Complete blood count (CBC) | *[[Complete blood count]] (CBC) | ||
*C-reactive protein (CRP) | *[[C-reactive protein]] (CRP) | ||
*Erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) | *[[Erythrocyte sedimentation rate]] (ESR) | ||
*MRI of the bone | *[[MRI]] of the bone | ||
*Needle aspiration of the area around affected bones | *Needle [[aspiration]] of the area around affected bones | ||
==Treatment options== | ==Treatment options== | ||
The goal of treatment is to get rid of the infection and reduce damage to the bone and surrounding tissues. Antibiotics are given to destroy the bacteria causing the infection. You may receive more than one antibiotic at a time. Often, the antibiotics are given through an IV (intravenously, meaning through a vein) rather than by mouth. Antibiotics are taken for at least 4 - 6 weeks, sometimes longer. | *The goal of treatment is to get rid of the infection and reduce damage to the bone and surrounding tissues. | ||
Surgery may be needed to remove dead bone tissue if you have an infection that does not go away. If there are metal plates near the infection, they may need to be removed. The open space left by the removed bone tissue may be filled with bone graft or packing material that promotes the growth of new bone tissue. | *[[Antibiotics]] are given to destroy the bacteria causing the infection. You may receive more than one antibiotic at a time. Often, the antibiotics are given through an IV ([[intravenously]], meaning through a vein) rather than by mouth. Antibiotics are taken for at least 4 - 6 weeks, sometimes longer. | ||
Infection of an orthopedic prosthesis, such as an artificial joint, may need surgery to remove the prosthesis and infected tissue around the area. A new prosthesis may be implanted in the same operation. More often, doctors wait to implant the prosthesis until the infection has gone away. | *Surgery may be needed to remove dead bone tissue if you have an infection that does not go away. If there are metal plates near the infection, they may need to be removed. The open space left by the removed bone tissue may be filled with bone graft or packing material that promotes the growth of new bone tissue. | ||
If you have diabetes, it will need to be well controlled. If there are problems with blood supply to the infected area, such as the foot, surgery to improve blood flow may be needed. | *Infection of an orthopedic [[prosthesis]], such as an artificial joint, may need surgery to remove the prosthesis and infected tissue around the area. A new prosthesis may be implanted in the same operation. More often, doctors wait to implant the prosthesis until the infection has gone away. | ||
*If you have [[diabetes]], it will need to be well controlled. If there are problems with blood supply to the infected area, such as the foot, surgery to improve blood flow may be needed. | |||
==Where to find medical care for Osteomyelitis?== | ==Where to find medical care for Osteomyelitis?== | ||
| Line 61: | Line 65: | ||
==What to expect (Outlook/Prognosis)?== | ==What to expect (Outlook/Prognosis)?== | ||
With treatment, the outcome for acute osteomyelitis is usually good. The outlook is worse for those with long-term (chronic) osteomyelitis, even with surgery. Amputation may be needed, especially in those with diabetes or poor blood circulation. The outlook for those with an infection of an orthopedic prosthesis depends, in part, on: | With treatment, the outcome for acute osteomyelitis is usually good. The outlook is worse for those with long-term (chronic) osteomyelitis, even with surgery. [[Amputation]] may be needed, especially in those with [[diabetes]] or poor blood circulation. The outlook for those with an infection of an orthopedic prosthesis depends, in part, on: | ||
*The patient's health | *The patient's health | ||
*The type of infection | *The type of infection | ||
| Line 67: | Line 71: | ||
==Possible complications== | ==Possible complications== | ||
When the bone is infected, pus is produced in the bone, which may result in an abscess. The abscess steals the bone's blood supply. The lost blood supply can result in a complication called chronic osteomyelitis. This chronic infection can cause symptoms that come and go for years. | When the bone is infected, [[pus]] is produced in the bone, which may result in an [[abscess]]. The abscess steals the bone's blood supply. The lost blood supply can result in a complication called chronic osteomyelitis. This chronic infection can cause symptoms that come and go for years. | ||
Other complications include: | Other complications include: | ||
*Need for amputation | *Need for [[amputation]] | ||
*Reduced limb or joint function | *Reduced limb or joint function | ||
*Spread of infection to surrounding tissues or the bloodstream. | *Spread of infection to surrounding tissues or the bloodstream. | ||
==Prevention== | ==Prevention== | ||
Prompt and complete treatment of infections is helpful. People who are at high risk or who have a compromised immune system should see a health care provider promptly if they have signs of an infection anywhere in the body. | Prompt and complete treatment of infections is helpful. People who are at high risk or who have a compromised [[immune system]] should see a health care provider promptly if they have signs of an infection anywhere in the body. | ||
==Sources== | ==Sources== | ||
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ | http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/boneinfections.html | ||
{{WH}} | {{WH}} | ||
{{WS}} | {{WS}} | ||
[[Category:Patient information]] | |||
[[Category:Orthopedics]] | [[Category:Orthopedics]] | ||
[[Category:Emergency | [[Category:Bacterial diseases]] | ||
[[Category:Skeletal disorders]] | |||
[[Category:Disease]] | |||
[[Category:Emergency mdicine]] | |||
[[Category:Up-To-Date]] | |||
[[Category:Infectious disease]] | [[Category:Infectious disease]] | ||
Latest revision as of 23:27, 29 July 2020
For the WikiDoc page on Osteomyelitis, click here
For the WikiDoc page on Vertebral osteomyelitis, click here
|
Osteomyelitis |
|
Osteomyelitis On the Web |
|---|
Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]
Overview
Osteomyelitis is an acute or chronic bone infection.
What are the symptoms of Osteomyelitis?
- Bone pain
- Fever
- General discomfort, uneasiness, or ill-feeling (malaise)
- Local swelling, redness, and warmth
Other symptoms that may occur with this disease:
- Chills
- Excessive sweating
- Low back pain
- Swelling of the ankles, feet, and legs
What causes Osteomyelitis?
- Bone infection can be caused by bacteria (more common) or fungi (less common).
- Infection may spread to a bone from infected skin, muscles, or tendons next to the bone, as in osteomyelitis that occurs under a chronic skin ulcer (sore).
- The infection that causes osteomyelitis can also start in another part of the body and spread to the bone through the blood.
- A current or past injury may have made the affected bone more likely to develop the infection. A bone infection can also start after bone surgery, especially if the surgery is done after an injury or if metal rods or plates are placed in the bone.
- In children, the long bones are usually affected. In adults, the feet, spine bones (vertebrae), and the hips (pelvis) are most commonly affected.
Who is at highest risk?
- Diabetes
- Hemodialysis
- Injected drug use
- Poor blood supply
- Recent trauma
- People who have had their spleen removed are also at higher risk for osteomyelitis.
When to seek urgent medical care?
Call your health care provider if:
- You develop symptoms of osteomyelitis
- You have osteomyelitis and the symptoms continue despite treatment
Diagnosis
A physical examination shows bone tenderness and possibly swelling and redness. Tests may include:
- Blood cultures
- Bone biopsy (which is then cultured)
- Bone scan
- Bone x-ray
- Complete blood count (CBC)
- C-reactive protein (CRP)
- Erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR)
- MRI of the bone
- Needle aspiration of the area around affected bones
Treatment options
- The goal of treatment is to get rid of the infection and reduce damage to the bone and surrounding tissues.
- Antibiotics are given to destroy the bacteria causing the infection. You may receive more than one antibiotic at a time. Often, the antibiotics are given through an IV (intravenously, meaning through a vein) rather than by mouth. Antibiotics are taken for at least 4 - 6 weeks, sometimes longer.
- Surgery may be needed to remove dead bone tissue if you have an infection that does not go away. If there are metal plates near the infection, they may need to be removed. The open space left by the removed bone tissue may be filled with bone graft or packing material that promotes the growth of new bone tissue.
- Infection of an orthopedic prosthesis, such as an artificial joint, may need surgery to remove the prosthesis and infected tissue around the area. A new prosthesis may be implanted in the same operation. More often, doctors wait to implant the prosthesis until the infection has gone away.
- If you have diabetes, it will need to be well controlled. If there are problems with blood supply to the infected area, such as the foot, surgery to improve blood flow may be needed.
Where to find medical care for Osteomyelitis?
Directions to Hospitals Treating Osteomyelitis
What to expect (Outlook/Prognosis)?
With treatment, the outcome for acute osteomyelitis is usually good. The outlook is worse for those with long-term (chronic) osteomyelitis, even with surgery. Amputation may be needed, especially in those with diabetes or poor blood circulation. The outlook for those with an infection of an orthopedic prosthesis depends, in part, on:
- The patient's health
- The type of infection
- Whether the infected prosthesis can be safely removed
Possible complications
When the bone is infected, pus is produced in the bone, which may result in an abscess. The abscess steals the bone's blood supply. The lost blood supply can result in a complication called chronic osteomyelitis. This chronic infection can cause symptoms that come and go for years. Other complications include:
- Need for amputation
- Reduced limb or joint function
- Spread of infection to surrounding tissues or the bloodstream.
Prevention
Prompt and complete treatment of infections is helpful. People who are at high risk or who have a compromised immune system should see a health care provider promptly if they have signs of an infection anywhere in the body.
Sources
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/boneinfections.html Template:WH Template:WS