How to Diagnose Osteomyelitis
Osteomyelitis is an infection of the bone, generally caused by the Staphylococcus Aureus bacteria. This bacteria infects the bones because it travels through the blood from other infected areas. It can also come directly from a wound and travel straight to the bone. A common cause of Osteomyelitis is an open fracture, where not only the bone breaks, but the skin breaks too.
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Instructions
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Perform a physical examination of the patient. Be sure to take a complete medical history and list any medications the patient is already taking. Also ask about any recent problems with the area the patient says is painful.
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Take a blood sample to perform a blood test to pinpoint if the patient's white blood cell count is high, which is often a sign of infection. Look for signs of infection in the body, such as areas that are inflamed, red and warm.
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Send the patient for a bone x-ray. A bone x-ray can show if there is an infection in the bone, but might not be as accurate for someone who has just started complaining of pain. If the bone x-ray does not come back positive, but the patient exhibits signs of Osteomyelitis, send them for a bone scan, which gives you a more detailed view of the bone.
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Follow up with an MRI, if the bone scan indicates osteomyelitis. MRIs are a valuable test to run. In addition to diagnosing osteomyelitis, the MRI can also help determine how long the infection has been in the bone.
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