Osteomyelitis is a bacterial infection of the bone cortex and bone marrow. In addition to severe pain in the area of the bones and joints, a general feeling of illness and fatigue are to be expected. Treatment requires a doctor who uses antibiotics to combat the bacterial foci.
Further information on osteomyelitis and selected osteomyelitis specialists can be found below.
The clinical picture of osteomyelitis is commonly known simply as bone inflammation. However, this is an inadequate term. Doctors differentiate between
Bacteria that penetrate the bone or even the bone marrow can trigger an inflammation there.
The pathogens often enter the body through open surgery or a bone fracture and trigger an inflammation of the bone (osteitis). Osteomyelitis requires an additional factor: Here, the bacteria are flushed into the bone marrow with the blood (hematogenously) and cause the inflammation there.
The disease usually progresses in an acute form with the typical signs of inflammation:
In the chronic form, the bacteria are encapsulated in the bone. This can lead to pain and restricted movement in the joints. Chronicity occurs in 10-30 percent of cases. Sometimes these capsules break open as the disease progresses and empty their purulent contents to the outside.
The most common form of bone inflammation (osteitis) is after an operation, with men being affected more often than women. The reason for this is unknown. Children, on the other hand, suffer more frequently from osteomyelitis.
If the disease is only recognized late, the inflammation can spread further within the bone marrow. This can lead to irreparable damage to the bone marrow and joints.
Illustration of osteomyelitis on the femur © designua | AdobeStock
Initially, the bacterial infection results in
In children, the fever can rise to 40°C and be combined with chills.
Within a few days, bone and joint pain may also occur. However, signs of inflammation only become visible as the disease progresses. The affected areas then become very swollen and feel warm to the touch.
Osteomyelitis most frequently occurs in the knee joints or upper arms.
The main cause of bone and bone marrow inflammation is bacterial infection. The pathogens enter the body via
into the bones. A distinction is made depending on the route of infection:
The most common pathogens known to cause osteomyelitis are
In addition to the above-mentioned infection risks, there are a number of other infection risk factors. These include, for example
The first clues are provided to the doctor by a well-conducted medical history. This involves asking the patient about their medical history and exact symptoms.
The blood is then examined for inflammatory proteins (e.g. C-reactive protein). The bacteria causing the inflammation can also be detected directly by means of a joint puncture.
In early diagnostics, both CT and MRI can detect inflammation. These procedures are modern imaging techniques.
If osteomyelitis has already caused bone damage, this can be easily detected on an X-ray.
In order to successfully treat bone marrow inflammation, the bacteria causing it must be killed off. The easiest way to do this is with antibiotic therapy.
Bacteria are increasingly developing resistance to antibiotics worldwide. The doctor must therefore identify the exact strain of pathogen before antibiotic therapy. This is the only way to specifically combat it. To do this, the doctor performs a puncture to take tissue samples. These can be examined for the pathogen in the laboratory.
In osteomyelitis therapy, the antibiotics are taken orally (by mouth). The active ingredient dissolves and passes into the blood. From there, the antibiotic reaches the bone marrow via the same route as the disease-causing bacteria.
The bacteria then die off and the inflammation recedes.
The prognosis depends to a large extent
of the patient. As a rule, however, acute osteomyelitis is uncomplicated and therefore easily curable.
In adults, chronic bone marrow inflammationis more common, which can make the chances of recovery more difficult.
This is particularly problematic, although rare, in children. Their bone system is still growing. Damage caused by bone or bone marrow inflammation that is detected too late can certainly lead to late effects. Possible consequences include skeletal deformities or differences in leg length.
Osteomyelitis cannot beprevented. Observing your own body can help to make an early diagnosis. Therefore, pay particular attention to persistent symptoms after surviving bone injuries (e.g. fractures), such as
You should also pay particular attention to children. Their immune system is not yet fully developed and they are therefore more susceptible. This is why children suffer more frequently from tonsillitis or other bacterial infections. It is also possible for germs to be carried in the blood.
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