Osteomyelitis is a medical condition caused by severe infection within the bone. This type of infection is typically caused by bacteria but may also be caused by a fungal infection. Symptoms of osteomyelitis include fever, bone pain, swelling and fatigue. The infection can be controlled through the implementation of a number of strategies and treatments for osteomyelitis.
Antibiotic Treatment
The most common form of osteomyelitis treatment is the use of antibacterial or anti-fungal medications. When taken as prescribed, these medications can eradicate the infection within the bone that is responsible for causing symptoms of pain or swelling. The severity of your infection will dictate how long you require treatment. Some people might receive antibiotic or anti-fungal treatment intravenously at a hospital for 4 to 8 weeks, according to the "Merck Manual Home Edition for Patients and Caregivers. Severe infection may require you to continue this treatment for several months. Your doctor might also recommend bed rest to help your body fight off the infection.
Surgery
Depending upon the location of your bone infection, your doctor may recommend surgical treatment options to resolve the infection caused by osteomyelitis. Certain people may develop an abscess---a fluid or pus-filled sack---that forms near the site of infection. If this occurs, your doctor might recommend that the abscess be drained of infection by a surgeon. If the infection causes damage to your bone tissue, your doctor may recommend debridement. Debridement is a surgical procedure that involves the removal of the infected bone and surrounding tissue. Typically, your doctor will replace the bone and tissue with a piece of healthy bone or tissue from another part of your body---a procedure called a bone or tissue graft. A bone or tissue graft can encourage new bone growth at the surgical site. Osteomyelitis may also affect bone or tissue that has been repaired previously through the use of surgical screws or plates. If you develop osteomyelitis in a bone that contains these surgical components, you might need to have them removed via surgery to resolve the infection.
Lifestyle Alterations
Individuals with osteomyelitis might benefit from certain lifestyle alterations that encourage increased blood flow throughout the body. Your doctor may recommend that you quit smoking, alter your dietary intake or increase your level of physical exercise to help blood flow more efficiently throughout your body. Increased blood flow can help your body fight off infection and can help your body heal faster after surgery.
Amputation
In severe cases of osteomyelitis, the infection may cause the affected bone tissue to die. If this occurs, your doctor may recommend an amputation to remove the dead bone tissue and prevent the spread of the infection to other regions of the body. An amputation is a surgical procedure that involves the removal of an entire bone or limb, such as a portion or your arm or leg.
