A bone infection, or osteomyelitis, occurs when bacteria invades and contaminates a bone. This often occurs when there is an open fracture where one or both ends of a bone break through the skin and are exposed to bacterial contamination. A bone infection can happen suddenly or develop over a long period of time. A common location of bone infections is in the long bones of the arms and legs, especially in children. An infection can also occur in one area of the body from an open wound and spread to the bones through the blood steam
Symptoms
- Fever
- Chills
- Fatigue or feeling “unwell”
- Redness
- Swelling
- Oozing or drainage
- Stiffness or inability to use affected limb
Causes
- Open wound
- Open fracture
- Surgery
- Infection elsewhere inside of body (such an a UTI or pneumonia)
- Animal bite
- Intravenous drug use
Risk Factors
- Older individuals
- Diabetics
- Intravenous drug user
- Hemodialysis
- Trauma to tissue surrounding bone
- Joint replacement
- Sickle cell disease
- Peripheral arterial disease
- Smoking
- Recent injury
- Circulation disorder
Prevention
- Thoroughly clean open wounds right away
- Seek medical attention immediately if open fracture were to occur to decontaminate fracture and stabilize bone
Diagnosis
- Blood test
- X-ray
- CT or MRI
Treatment Options
- Anti-biotics (oral, intravenous, or time-released beads)
- Surgery to remove infected bone
- Surgical debridement of surrounding tissues and irrigation
- Amputation of effected limb (very rare)
