Causes

• Different situations can play a role in the onset of osteomyelitis, including the following:
  •Fractures and other open injuries of the bone that puncture the skin.
  •Infections that travel from other parts of the body through the blood, such as those caused by pneumonia and urinary tract infections.
  •Soft tissue infection or open wound infection that travels down to the surface of the bone, causing it to get infected.
  •Bacteria in the bloodstream that goes into the localized area of the bone.
  •Minor trauma that causes blood clots to form on the circumference of the bone, causing a secondary infection from the bacteria's seeding.
  
  

Risks

• The adults and children that become infected by osteomyelitis should seek medical attention immediately to avoid further complications. Those who leave it untreated will face a chronic form of the condition, which will cause the infected bone to lose blood. This can then lead to the death of the bone's tissue.
  
  Osteomyelitis doesn't infect specific races or genders. Those who are more susceptible to getting the infection include those with diabetes, receiving hemodialysis, those with weakened immune systems, intravenous drug users, sickle cell patients and the elderly. Other risk factors that can lead to osteomyelitis are orthopedic surgeries and poor circulation.
  
  

Symptoms

• Symptoms that are associated with osteomyelitis include pain/tenderness in infected location, swelling and warmth in the area of infection, nausea, fever, uneasiness, drainage/pus from the skin, excessive sweating, chills, lower back pain, swollen ankles, legs and feet and changes in walking pattern (limping).
  
  

Diagnosis

• During the diagnosis process, the doctor will ask the patient about her history and give a complete physical exam. From this, the doctor will be able to find signs of bone tenderness, soft tissue and swelling or redness. If the patient is having any symptoms, she will have to describe them. Further tests may be necessary, including biopsy, blood test, bone scan, needle aspiration and blood culture.
  
  

Treatment

• There are various ways to treat and manage osteomyelitis: drainage, medications, splinting/casting mobilization or surgery. Treatment given depends on the severity of the infection.