AETIOLOGY AND PATHOLOGY OF OSTEOMYELITIS

Abstract

Osteomyelitis is an inflammation of bone caused by an infecting organism. It may remain localized, or it may spread tlrrough the bone to involve the marrow, cortex, periosteum, and soft tissue surrow1ding the bone. Fifty years ago about 20% of patients with osteomyelitis died and those who survived had significant morbidity. with the advent of antibiotics and more sophisticated treatment techniques, the risk of death is negligible and the complication rate is about 5%. even with tllis improved prognosis however, an established infection remains one of the most challenging problems for ilie orthopaedic surgeons (Crenshew, 1992).

The tenn osteomyelitis, taken literally, implies inflammation of bone and its marrow regardless of whether it is due to pyogenic orgrulisms, tuberculosis, sypllilis, a specific virus, or the presence of foreign body such as shrapnel. However, wliversal acceptance of the tennis applied to infection by pyogetlic bacteria, less conunonly to grrumlomatous