Acute Osteomyelitis Research Papers

Osteomyelitis
What once was considered an incurable condition, osteomyelitis is inflammation of bone, bone marrow, and the soft tissue surrounding the bone caused by infection. The infection can start in the bone by spreading from nearby tissue or traveling through the bloodstream. This infection can also develop in the bone itself if the bone is exposed to germs in any way. Osteomyelitis can be classified as chronic or acute and the treatment for both depends on many factors (“Osteomyelitis”, 2014). Acute osteomyelitis usually occurs in children. It comes on quickly, but is easier to treat and overall turns out better than chronic osteomyelitis. In children, acute osteomyelitis occurs in the arm or leg bones, more specifically the calcaneus
Acute osteomyelitis or osteomyelitis in children tends to develop quickly over seven to ten days. Chronic osteomyelitis may not show its symptoms for a couple weeks after the original infection. Whether it be acute or chronic osteomyelitis the symptoms are very similar. The first symptoms a person may develop are fever, irritability, and fatigue, as well as nausea. In the area of the infection tenderness, redness, and warmth will develop. Swelling around the affected bone will develop as well as the loss of range of motion. The patient may have difficulty using that limb or it may be painful to bear weight and walk. When osteomyelitis is in the vertebrae it makes itself known through severe back pain throughout the day, but especially at night. In adults, symptoms develop more gradually. The ones affected that have diabetes, peripheral neuropathy, or peripheral vascular disease often has no pain or fever. The only symptom may be skin breaking down in that area (“Osteomyelitis Symptoms”,
It is common for a patient to make a full recovery without any complications in the long-run. If there is a delay of diagnosis, which leads to a delay in treatment, permanent loss of function can occur as well as make the patient more susceptible to recurrence (Panteli, 2014). If there was significant bone and soft tissue injury or surgery, recovery time will be significantly prolonged. Patients that have diabetes do not have as good of a prognosis because their circulation is not as good so it takes longer for the infection to go away (Turns, 2015). Prevention is the key with osteomyelitis. If a person gets a cut, especially a deep cut, it should be washed out completely and kept clean. An open would should be flushed out under warm running water for at least five minutes and then covered in sterile bandages to keep infection out (Turns, 2015). The person should also keep a close watch for signs of infection. If a person is to have surgery, the surgery site is to be thoroughly cleaned and wrapped so that infection does not