Bone inflammation in the ear

Inflammation of the middle ear or ear canal can spread to adjacent bones such as the temporal bone and cause bone inflammation there. Otitis externa maligna (a severe form of inflammation of the auditory canal) is a severe inflammation of the external auditory canal that spreads to bones and brain nerves. The pathogen is often a bacterium called Pseudomonas, which mainly affects patients with a weak immune system (such as diabetics).

In addition to severe pain, it can cause secretions to flow out of the ear. Patients also develop a strong feeling of illness with fever and increased inflammation levels in the blood. The physician (usually an ENT specialist) receives initial information by means of a reflection of the ear canal with a special device. The extent of the inflammation can be assessed by means of CT or MRI imaging, but only a sample can provide a clear indication, which can also rule out malignant degeneration. If antibiotic therapy is not effective, the inflamed tissue must be surgically removed and a bone graft inserted if necessary.

Bone inflammation in the leg

Inflammation in the bone in the leg region can either be infiltrated via the bloodstream in the form of circulating bacteria (endogenous) or enter the bone from the environment from outside (exogenous). This can be caused by infections of the skin and soft tissues, which can spread to the bone.Bacteria can also enter the bone through open fractures of the lower extremity and cause an inflammation there. Finally, pathogens can enter the bone through operations and through foreign material used, such as plates or screws or samples taken from the leg.

Symptoms can include swelling, pain and redness in the affected leg, as well as a general feeling of illness and fever. The physician makes the diagnosis on the one hand from the clinical picture of his patient, as well as from elevated inflammatory parameters in the blood and imaging procedures such as X-rays, CT, MRI or scintigraphy. In some cases, it is necessary to take a sample for microscopic examination.

In this way, the most important differential diagnosis, a tumor of the bone, can also be excluded. As soon as the doctor has confirmed the diagnosis, antibiotic therapy should be started. If this does not lead to a reduction of the inflammation, it must be surgically removed. If the bone inflammation is caused by infected foreign material such as screws or nails in the body, this must be removed surgically in any case to allow healing. If adequate treatment is not carried out, the inflammation can become chronic and thus persist for months to years, leading to the gradual destruction of the bone tissue.