Osteomyelitis

Osteomyelitis (OM) is the infectious inflammation of bone. It may be acute or chronic and can be classified as hematogenous or non-hematogenous. It is commonly caused by bacterial infection, but rarely can be due to fungal infection. Symptoms are commonly non-specific but may include pain, swelling and redness around the affected area. In adults, the most commonly affected site is the spine and in pediatric populations the most commonly affected site is the long bones. Diagnosis is suspected on the basis of clinical presentation and aided by laboratory and imaging studies and made definitive by biopsy and culture of the presenting area. Treatment of bacterial OM involves antimicrobials and can involve surgery or even amputation. Outcomes are generally good when the condition has been present only a short time. In humans, the condition was described as early as the 300s BC by Hippocrates. Prior to the availability of antibiotics, the risk of death was significant.