Osteomyelitis is an infection of bone that can be either acute or lasting less than 4 weeks, or chronic, lasting more than 4 weeks. It is caused by either direct trauma or hematogenous spread from bacteremia. Signs and symptoms include fever, inflammation, tenderness, redness, heat, pain and swelling over the infected area. Diagnosis involves laboratory tests, blood and wound cultures, and imaging like MRI or CT. Treatment consists of long-term antibiotics, surgery to remove infected bone tissue, pain management, and supporting the affected bone.

1. Osteomyelitis
• Osteomyelitis is an infection of bone
that can be either acute or chronic. A
bone infection lasting less than 4
weeks is considered acute; one that
lasts more than 4 weeks is chronic

2. Etiology
•Penetrating trauma leads to acute
osteomyelitis by direct
Hematogenous spread results from
bacteremia (infection of the blood),

3. Signs and Symptoms:
fever, signs of inflammation, such as
tenderness, redness, heat, pain, and
swelling. Pain (particularly over the
area of infection), may be the only
apparent complaint. Ulceration,
drainage, and localized pain are typical
signs and

4. Diagnosis of Acute osteomyelitis:
•Laboratory investigations,
•blood cultures, wound swabs,
•needle biopsy samples are taken for
culture and sensitivity
•Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
•Computed tomography (CT)

5. Therapeutic Measures
•Long-term antibiotic therapy
•Patients with chronic osteomyelitis may
require surgery to remove necrotic
•Bone tissue or replace
•Nursing Care
•intravenous antibiotics
•. sterile technique is used for dressing changes

6. .Pain management
.Elevating and supporting the affected bone
. The use of traction, splints and casts
Aspirin and paracetamol are both analgesic
and antipyretic
Regular antiemetics are needed
patients experiencing nausea as a side effect of
the drugs.
Intravenous fluids and increasing oral fluid
intake
.

7. -surgical management of an infected bone
- Extensive debridement to control the
infection,
-Irrigation of the area,
-Skeletal fixation,
-Bone grafting or limb salvage involving
external fixation and
-Bone transportation. -