Osteomyelitis is a severe infection of the bone caused by bacteria or other germs. This infection can occur suddenly (acute osteomyelitis) or over time (chronic osteomyelitis). It can affect any bone in the body, including the jawbone.
Causes:
Osteomyelitis often results from the spread of an infection from an adjacent area, such as the spine. B. a tooth infection. It can also enter the bone through an open fracture or during surgery. In hematogenous osteomyelitis, the pathogen is carried into the bone in the bloodstream.
Symptoms:
Symptoms include pain and swelling in the affected area, in some cases, fever, and redness or warmth over the affected bone. In chronic osteomyelitis, these symptoms may be less pronounced but last for a longer period.
Diagnosis:
Diagnosis of osteomyelitis usually involves taking a medical history, a physical examination, and imaging tests such as digital volume tomography (DVT), computed tomography (CT), or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Exceptional images that show metabolic activity (SPECT/CT), blood tests, and culture analysis of tissue samples may also be required.
Treatment:
Treatment of osteomyelitis usually requires a combination of antibiotics and surgery. Antibiotics are often given over a long time to fight the infection. Surgical procedures may be necessary to remove infected tissue and contaminated foreign bodies, improve blood flow to the affected bone, or repair bone damage.
Osteomyelitis is a severe condition that requires rapid and effective treatment to prevent complications such as the spread of infection or permanent bone damage.