Chronic osteomyelitis

Last revised by Mohammad Osama Hussein Yonso on 31 Jan 2024

Citation, DOI, disclosures and article data

Citation:

Weerakkody Y, Yonso M, Niknejad M, et al. Chronic osteomyelitis. Reference article, Radiopaedia.org (Accessed on 18 Apr 2024) https://doi.org/10.53347/rID-64483

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.53347/rID-64483

Permalink:

https://radiopaedia.org/articles/64483?iframe=true

rID:

64483

Article created:

24 Nov 2018, Yuranga Weerakkody ◉

Disclosures:

At the time the article was created Yuranga Weerakkody had no recorded disclosures.

View Yuranga Weerakkody's current disclosures

Last revised:

31 Jan 2024, Mohammad Osama Hussein Yonso ◉

Disclosures:

At the time the article was last revised Mohammad Osama Hussein Yonso had no financial relationships to ineligible companies to disclose.

View Mohammad Osama Hussein Yonso's current disclosures

Revisions:

19 times, by 15 contributors - see full revision history and disclosures

Chronic osteomyelitis is a form of osteomyelitis and is defined as a progressive inflammatory process resulting in bone destruction and sequestrum formation. Bacteria and fungi can cause it. It may present as recurrent or intermittent disease.

It is a result of osteonecrosis caused by disruption of intraosseous and periosteal blood supply during the acute stage of the disease. A dead infected bone fragment becomes separated from viable bone (known as a sequestrum). Infective agents within the devascularised sequestrum become protected from antibiotics and the endogenous immune response, forming a nidus for chronic infection. This may persist for years. It is characterized by increased inflammatory neutrophils, plasma cells, and lymphocytes.

Radiographic features

Plain radiograph

Inhomogeneous osteosclerosis and/or sequestrum formation (necrotic bone) is characteristic of chronic osteomyelitis on plain radiography.

CT

CT may provide information regarding the presence of sequestra, cloaca, cortical destruction and the thickness of the involucrum.

Quiz questions

References

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