Osteomyelitis is an infectious disease, which occurs in the bone marrow. Pyogenic bacteria or mycobacteria are the ones who are responsible for it. The infection, which primarily occurs in the bone marrow, also affects the adjacent tissues. They become chronic and the consequences can be fatal.
There are a number of ways in which, Osteomyelitis can occur. The causative agent may reach the bones through the blood stream and thus infect them. The other method of infection is contagious spread of microorganism from a nearby surrounding infection. One more method that is common is through the surgical procedures of bones. some of the examples are the replacements of joint, bones, bone marrow, root canal treatment, or fixing of fractures through insertion of foreign support. This occurs if the instruments used for the treatment are infected.
After the initial infection by the microorganism leukocytes attempt, correct it. For this, they release certain enzymes, which affect the bones. Because of all this after sometime pus spreads and blocks the blood vessels supplying the bones. This situation is called ‘Sequestra’. The next stage of is chronic Osteomyelitis during which bone sclerosis and deformations arise. Also in some cases, the body tries to make a new bone, which is developed besides the infected bone.
Commonly, femur, tibia, humerus, vertebra, mandibular, and maxilla bodies are more prone to Osteomyelitis.
As mentioned earlier Ostoemyelitis is an infectious disease. Therefore, for the treatment it is important to remove the germs i.e. the cause from the body. Medication, which includes antibiotics, is the best option for treatment of Osteomyelitis.
Osteomyelitis can be treated through oral medication. Generally, IV antibiotic are used for curing Osteomyelitis. This method is effective but it would take some time like about some weeks or months. It is generally used when the infection is not too serious.
However if it is serious, surgical methods are used. This is done when the infected part has been greatly damaged and cannot be repaired. Therefore, the infected part is removed. Supplementary medication is also given along with the surgery in order to eliminate the infection, which may have spread to the other parts.
Nevertheless, it is important to detect Osteomyelitis in the early stages and cure it as early as possible. As if the infection spreads too much the not it may be necessitate removal of that part through surgery. In some cases as an extreme infection of Osteomyelitis in a limb may necessitate removal of the whole limb.
