The infection that causes osteomyelitis often is in another part of the body and spreads to the bone via the blood. Affected bone may have been predisposed to infection because of recent trauma.In children, the long bones are usually affected. In adults, the vertebrae and the pelvis are most commonly affected.

Bone infection can be caused by bacteria or by fungus. When the bone is infected, pus is produced within the bone, which may result in an abscess. The abscess then deprives the bone of its blood supply.

Infection is invasion of the body with organisms that have the potential to cause disease. Bone infection occurs when bacteria invade bone, either through the bloodstream or by contact with the outside environment. The bacteria eat away at the bone and damage the local blood supply to that bone, consequently preventing antibiotics from reaching the bacteria.

In children it is thought that bacteria enter the bloodstream through the nose or bowel, and settle in areas of the bone which have been previously damaged by a small knock, or in parts of the bone with a good blood supply. The bacteria multiply and the body's defences cause pus to form. This eats away the bone and an abscess forms which spreads through the bone and eventually comes to the surface. After a fracture, the bacteria enter the wound directly and settle on the bare ends. They then multiply and cause pus to form which eventually discharges back through the wound.

Treatment of Bone Infection

As with mild infection, the bone defect that remains after surgical cleansing is treated with a large dose of locally administered antibiotics via nonresorbable bone cement, which requires subsequent surgery for removal and replacement with bone graft, or via an absorbable mix of synthetic bone substitute, which does not require subsequent surgery.

The operation may require a bone graft from the hip to fill the cavity that is left, and the limb may have to rest in plaster. In the early stages of osteomyelitis in children, the child will be in hospital. Doctor should observed child to ensure that the antibiotic treatment is effective and that the infection is adequately controlled. After discharge from hospital, recurrence of pain and any signs of swelling or redness in the limb you should tell to the doctor. You must take the full course of antibiotics as prescribed, to prevent the infection returning.

The treatment of osteomyelitis depends on the type of infection. In the type that results from bloodstream infection, called "hematogenous osteomyelitis," the treatment is a four- to six-week course of intravenous (IV) antibiotics. Sometimes, if there is dead bone, surgery is required to remove it. In the form that starts with a sore in the skin, called "contiguous spreading osteomyelitis," surgery is almost always required. The operation is also followed by a long course of antibiotics.

In the majority of children, after adequate treatment with antibiotics and/or surgery, the infection settles completely and does not recur. Any change in the affected limb or other limbs should be watched for and your doctor contacted immediately if anything is noted. In chronic osteomyelitis, especially in adults after fractures, there may be recurring discharge from the region of the damaged bone.