Osteomyelitis: Pathology

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Osteomyelitis
Brette Maddox
Dixie State University Abstract
This paper researches information from a selection of sources about the pathology osteomyelitis. Osteomyelitis is the inflammation and infection of bone, bone marrow, and inadvertently the surrounding soft tissue. It can occur in any bone of the body. It is caused by bacteria and occasionally fungus. Symptoms can be difficult to determine and the illness can occur from differentiating factors. Without treatment, infection can spread throughout the body and possibility of amputation is prevalent. Most imaging modalities can be used in some respect to diagnose the disease. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), nuclear medicine (Nuc Med), and positron emission tomography (PET) are …show more content…

The most significant problems are: Infection spreading from the bone into the joints and cause septic arthritis. Also, in children, osteomyelitis commonly occurs in the epiphyseal plates (growth plates) which can cause complications with the growth of the child. Skin cancer can also occur from pus draining from open sores caused by osteomyelitis. Finally, if infection of the bone is prolonged and the blood supply to that portion of bone is cut off then osteonecrosis, which is the death of bone, can ensue. ("Osteomyelitis", …show more content…

It is not the best method because visual notifications of the disease do not typically present themselves until weeks after the infection has begun. Early signs on radiographs include soft tissue swelling, periosteal thickening, and osteopenia. Only once 50-75% of osteolysis (destruction of bone material) has occurred is when it is visible in diagnostic x-ray. (Calhoun et al., 2009) However, x-rays are complementary with other modalities when diagnosing osteomyelitis. It demonstrates both anatomical and pathological indications and it is capable of ruling out other pathological problems such as metastasis or osteoporosis. Therefore, radiographs remain part of the diagnosis process. (Hatzenbuehler & Pulling,

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