Signs and Symptoms
- Pain in a specific bone with overlying redness
- Fever
- Weakness
- Inability to walk, especially in children with acute bacterial osteomyelitis
- Enlarged lymph nodes may be present

Causes and Risk Factors
- Bacterial infection
- Fungal infection
- Trauma or injury to the bone
- Surgical procedures
- Bloodstream infection
- Diabetes
- Compromised immune system
- Intravenous drug use
- Chronic skin ulcers
- Recent surgery or trauma

Pathogenesis and Diagnosis
- Infection can occur via the bloodstream, nearby areas of infection, or penetrating trauma
- The metaphysis of the bone is usually affected when infection is contracted through the bloodstream
- Leukocytes enter the infected area and release enzymes that lyse the bone
- Pus spreads into the bone's blood vessels, impairing their flow
- Chronic osteomyelitis can lead to bone sclerosis and deformity
- Diagnosis is suspected based on symptoms and basic laboratory tests
- C-reactive protein (CRP) and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) are commonly used tests
- Plain radiographs are usually unremarkable in the first few days following acute infection
- Blood tests, medical imaging, or bone biopsy can confirm the diagnosis
- Diagnosis may also involve assessing risk factors such as diabetes or prior spleen removal

Treatment Options
- Bacterial osteomyelitis often requires antimicrobials and surgery
- In people with poor blood flow, amputation may be necessary
- Fungal osteomyelitis requires antifungal medications
- Neglected fungal osteomyelitis may require amputation or large bony resections
- Treatment outcomes of bacterial osteomyelitis are generally good when caught early, with a low mortality rate
- Prolonged antibiotic therapy
- Surgical debridement in severe cases
- Use of PICC line or central venous catheter for intravenous medication
- Regional differences in common infective organisms determine initial antibiotic choice
- Hyperbaric oxygen therapy as an adjunct treatment

Complications and Other Information
- Chronic infection that is difficult to treat
- Bone deformities or limb length discrepancies
- Spread of infection to surrounding tissues or joints
- Septicemia or bloodstream infection
- Development of abscesses or pus-filled pockets
- Greek origins of the word osteomyelitis
- Thomas Eakins' depiction of a surgical procedure for osteomyelitis
- Canadian politician Tommy Douglas' experience with osteomyelitis
- Douglas' surgeries performed for free in exchange for medical student observation
- Douglas' impact on healthcare in Canada
- Osteomyelitis studied by paleopathologists
- Evidence of osteomyelitis in fossils of Allosaurus fragilis
- Association of osteomyelitis with the first evidence of parasites in dinosaur bones