Osteomyelitis

Chronic Osteomyelitis

Chronic osteomyelitis is a severe, persistent, and sometimes incapacitating infection of bone and bone marrow. It is often a recurring condition because it is difficult to treat definitively. This disease may result from the following: Inadequate treatment of acute osteomyelitis
Osteomyelitis more commonly affects people younger than 20, or adults older than 50 years of age. While there is a higher incidence of bone infections in adults that live in developing countries, hemodialysis patients, injection drug users, and patients with diabetes are also more susceptible to this infection.
Symptoms

Fluid from wound in legs or feet

or Fluid from a wound in arms or hands

common

Skin rash and redness

  • At upper extremity except hand, At legs not feet, At feet

common

Fever

  • Less than 38°C (100.4°F)

common

Fatigue

common

Pain in arms

or Pain in the leg above the knee

or Pain in lower leg

or Facial pain

common

Leg hurts when touched

or Thigh hurts when touched

or Arms hurt when touched

Swelling in lower leg

  • One side

or Enlarged arms or hands

or Enlarged thighs

or Enlarged feet or ankle

  • In one side

Risk factors

Recent injury or trauma in lower leg without ankle and feet

or History of orthopedic surgery

or Recent injury or trauma in upper extremity

or Recent injury or trauma in thigh

Diabetes mellitus

Treatment
Chronic osteomyelitis is generally treated with antibiotics and surgical debridement but can persist intermittently for years with frequent therapeutic failure or relapse. Despite advances in both antibiotic and surgical treatment, the long‐term recurrence rate remains around 20%.
Recommended specialist

If you have Osteomyelitis, then visit an orthopedic surgeon as soon as possible.

Contact an

Orthopedic surgeon

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