Introduction
Human bones consist of an outer compact shell (compacta) and an inner porous cancellous bone, which contains the bone marrow. While an isolated inflammation of the outer compacta is called osteitis, the involvement of the bone marrow is called osteomyelitis. In everyday life, the terms mentioned are often used synonymously. Inflammation of the bone is a serious disease that is often accompanied by general symptoms such as fever and weakness and usually requires antibiotic treatment. Treatment is often lengthy, with the chances of recovery depending on the pathogen, the spread of the inflammation and any complications.
Symptoms
The symptoms of an inflammation in the bone are initially the cardinal symptoms of any inflammation. In addition to redness and swelling, these include pain and functional limitations, such as reduced mobility in the joint. The above-mentioned symptoms can also occur individually, and the order in which they occur is also variable.
Systemic signs of illness such as fever and fatigue can also occur. Elevated inflammation values such as leukocytes or CRP can be detected in the blood. A distinction is made between an acute (i.e. temporary) and a chronic course.
A chronic course is often observed in patients with a limited immune system (e.g. with immunosuppressive medication or diseases such as diabetes) and multi-resistant germs. The multi-resistant germs are resistant to several antibiotic groups and often develop and spread in hospitals. As a complication of an inflammation in the bone, abscesses and fistulas (connecting passages) can form. In some cases, the destruction of bone tissue can lead to bone fractures.
Causes
Inflammation in the bone can develop locally and thus be limited to a section of bone. This is mainly caused by open fractures, which means that the bone is in direct contact with the environment and bacteria, so that osteitis or osteomyelitis can occur. Medical measures such as operations on the bone, the insertion of foreign material such as screws or plates, or the taking of a sample (biopsy) can also lead to local inflammation in the bone.
Most frequently, bacterial pathogens such as streptococci or staphylococci are the triggers of an inflammation in the bone; viruses, parasites and fungi are less common. In addition to an injury or medical intervention, blood poisoning (sepsis) with spread of the pathogens throughout the body can also be a possible cause of bone inflammation. It is not uncommon for several bones to be affected by the inflammation, resulting in severe cases.
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