Synonyms
- Endogenous Osteomyelitis
- Bone Conduction
- Bone Marrow Inflammation
- Osteitis
- Brodie abscess
- Osteomyelitis in childhood
Definition
Osteomyelitis (majority osteomyelitis) is an infectious disease of the bone. It is often referred to as chronic bone ulceration. Osteomyelitis (bone ulceration) can be caused by specific infections, such as tuberculosis and many others.
However, osteomyelitis is usually based on unspecific infections, which can be caused bacterially by open fractures and operations. It is usually just as rare for pathogens to be introduced via the bloodstream as it is for neighbouring centres of infection to be carried away. In addition to these bacterial osteomyelitides, osteomyelitis can also be caused by viruses and fungi in rare cases.
In the field of osteomyelitis caused by non-specific infections, a distinction is made between acute osteomyelitis and chronic osteomyelitis (chronic bone ulceration). Acute osteomyelitis occurs in two different forms. A distinction is made between: which can be discussed more explicitly below.
Chronic osteomyelitis also occurs in two different forms. A distinction is made here between: Acute osteomyelitis, regardless of whether the form is endogenous – hematogenic or exogenous, can become chronic if not treated appropriately (= secondary chronic form).
- The endogenous – hematogenic form (= primarily located in the medullary cavity; general disease with manifestation in the organ)
- The exogenous form (= post-traumatic, postoperative; osteitis),
- The secondary chronic form
- The primarily chronic form.
Causes
In general, it can be said that almost all inflammatory diseases of the bone are due to infections with various pathogens. As a rule, these pathogens are bacteria. The pathogen spectrum always depends on the type of infection.
In most cases, Staphylococcus aureus is considered the pathogen spectrum. In addition, Pseudomonas aeroginosa, Klebsiella, Staphylococcus albus, streptococci, meningococci, pneumococci and Escherichia coli can also play a decisive role. Streptococci as a pathogen spectrum are actually only relevant in hematogenic osteomyelitis in infancy and childhood.
As already mentioned, there are two pathways that can be held responsible for the development of acute osteomyelitis. Either it is an endogenous – hematogenic osteomyelitis, in which case the pathogens are transmitted via the blood from a focus of infection outside the bone, or it is a so-called exogenous osteomyelitis, in which case infections are transmitted into the body via open wounds (accidents, operations). Infections of an endogenous – hematogenous osteomyelitis can, for example, be sinusitis, tonsillitis, dental root infections, furuncles, etc. periostitis at the heel
