Acute Osteomyelitis: What to Know

Microorganisms may reach bone through the bloodstream, spread from nearby infected tissue or enter after an open injury or operation. The infection causes inflammation within rigid bone and surrounding tissues, which can impair blood supply and damage tissue if treatment is delayed.

Possible features include deep local pain, tenderness, swelling, warmth, reduced use of the limb, fever or chills. A surgical wound or ulcer that does not heal or begins draining can provide another clue. Some people, particularly those with reduced immune responses or altered sensation, may not develop prominent fever or pain.

Seek urgent in-person care when a bone infection is suspected. Clinicians may use blood tests and imaging, and obtain blood, wound or bone samples to identify the organism. Samples can help select an antimicrobial medicine, but treatment may begin before every result is available when illness is significant.

Hospital care can include antimicrobial medicine given into a vein, followed by a plan based on the infection site, organism and response. Surgery may be needed to drain infected material, remove unhealthy tissue, stabilise bone or manage infected hardware. Bone grafting is considered only in selected reconstructive situations after infected or damaged bone has been addressed.

Arrange urgent assessment for worsening focal bone pain with fever, warmth or swelling, especially after an operation, open fracture, puncture wound or nearby skin infection. Go to emergency care for confusion, faintness, breathing difficulty, rapidly spreading redness, severe weakness, a cold or discoloured limb, or a rapidly deteriorating general condition. These signs may reflect severe infection or impaired circulation.

Ask which bone is involved, whether cultures identified an organism, how treatment response will be monitored, and whether surgery is needed. Confirm how to care for wounds or intravenous access, which medicine effects require prompt reporting, and what weight-bearing or activity limits apply.