Osteomyelitis: symptoms, causes and how to treat it

Definition of osteomyelitis

What is osteomyelitis?

Osteomyelitis or osteomyelitis is an infection that causes inflammation within the bones. Infection can originate from the bone itself which was initially injured and untreated, thus inviting germs to infect.

Infection can also start in other parts of the body which then travel to the bones along with the bloodstream.

In fact, the bone structure is strong enough to fight infection. However, the bone that is subjected to trauma, surgery, or the insertion of a foreign body is weak enough to fight infection because blood flow is impaired. This condition makes the bones susceptible to infection.

Osteomyelitis can be acute and chronic. It is called acute if it occurs as a result of a previous injury or trauma, such as complications from surgery, tooth abscess, or an infection affecting the soft tissues, ears and sinuses. Meanwhile, it is called chronic if the osteomyelitis that previously occurred is not complete and gets worse over time.

Types of osteomyelitis

Oosteomyelitis can be divided into several types, namely:

Hematogenous osteomyelitis

Bone infection that occurs due to infection of organs or other tissues that are carried along with the bloodstream. The most common areas for infection are the femur, shin, or calfbone. This type of infection is more common in children than adults.

Vertebral osteomyelitis

Infection that attacks the spine. This type of infection is more common in people over the age of 50. Apart from surgery, infection can also be caused by inflammation of the urinary tract or inflammation of the lining of the heart (endocarditis).

Anaerobic osteomyelitis

Inflammation of the bones caused by anaerobic bacteria, eg Clostridium spp., Peptostreptococcus, Bacillus spp., and Corynebacterium spp.

How common is this condition?

Osteomyelitis (osteomyelitis) is a musculoskeletal disorder that can affect people of all ages. However, certain average ages lead to different types of bone inflammation.

For example, children are more commonly affected with hematogenous and anaerobic bone infections while adults are more commonly affected by inflammation of the spine.

Signs & symptoms of osteomyelitis

Infection that occurs in the bones can cause signs and symptoms. More clearly, the symptoms of osteomyelitis (osteomyelitis) that usually appear are:

• Fever for several days followed by chills and sweating.
• Inflamed bones cause pain, swell, and limit body movement.
• The skin covering the infected bone will be reddened and more sensitive.
• Infected bones can produce pus and there is damage to surrounding tissue, even nerve damage for people who have diabetes.

When to see a doctor?

If you experience any of the symptoms mentioned above, it's best to see a doctor immediately. Early diagnosis and treatment prevents permanent brittleness of the infected bone.

Causes of osteomyelitis

The cause of osteomyelitis is a bacterial or fungal infection. The most common type of bacteria to infect is staphylococcus, which is a bacteria that lives on the surface of the skin.

Either germs or fungi can get to the bones and infect in various ways, such as:

• Through the bloodstream: Infections that may start in the lungs or urinary tract can get to weakened bones through the bloodstream.
• Injury: Open sores on the skin from an injury can invite germs that eventually infect weak bones or broken bones.
• Operation: Direct exposure to germs may occur during fracture surgery or joint replacement.

Risk factors for osteomyelitis

Some of the factors that can increase your risk of developing osteomyelitis are:

• Have had a severe fracture, puncture wound, or animal bite that gives an opportunity for germs to infect.
• Have blood circulation problems, such as diabetes (a disease that causes high blood sugar levels).
• Use of medical devices such as urine catheters, intravenous tubes, or dialysis machine tubes.
• Have health problems that cause the body's immune system to damage, such as cancer, uncontrolled diabetes, and using corticosteroid drugs.

Complications of osteomyelitis

Untreated infected bones can lead to complications. The following are complications of osteomyelitis that may occur, as reported on the Mayo Clinic page:

• Osteonecrosis, which is dead bone due to infection, blocks blood circulation.
• Skin cancer due to an open wound that continues to drain pus, which can lead to abnormal squamous cells.
• Growth is disturbed, especially if it occurs in children.
• Septic arthritis, which is an infection that spreads to the joints and causes inflammation.

Treatment of osteomyelitis

Untreated infected bones can lead to complications. The following are complications of osteomyelitis that may occur, as reported on the Mayo Clinic page:

• Osteonecrosis, which is dead bone due to infection, blocks blood circulation.
• Skin cancer due to an open wound that continues to drain pus, which can lead to abnormal squamous cells.
• Growth is disturbed, especially if it occurs in children.
• Septic arthritis, which is an infection that spreads to the joints and causes inflammation.

Home remedies for osteomyelitis

In addition to doctor treatment, doctor treatments that you can do to support osteomyelitis healing are:

• Maintain the cleanliness of the infected skin area if any.
• If you are having surgery, first rest at home and avoid activities that could interfere with postoperative healing.
• Eat healthy foods so that your body can recover quickly.

Prevention of osteomyelitis

The main way to prevent osteomyelitis (ostemielitis) is to reduce the various things that can cause infection. You can avoid injury to your body by being careful in your activities.

If you have open wounds on your body, take good care of them. Treat wounds and be diligent to clean them. If you have any health problems related to infection, follow the treatment recommended by your doctor.