How to Treat a Bone Infection

Treatments for bone infections may include a combination of invasive surgery and antibiotics.

A bone infection, also known as osteomyelitis, can cause severe pain and an inability to put weight on the limb that is affected. Bone infections occur when microorganisms invade the bone by entering through the bloodstream, by way of neighboring tissues, or through external means such as surgery or trauma. When white blood cells flood the area to fight the infection, they release enzymes that kill not only the microorganisms, but bone tissue. The most common bone infection is Staphylococcus aureus, or the staph infections. In order to treat a bone infection, you must have the infected bone tissue cleaned and treated by trained medical personnel.

Difficulty:

Challenging

Instructions

1. Prepare for surgery. Surgery is often the first step for treating a bone infection, regardless of the severity of the contamination. Surgery cleans the affected area and drains abscesses and wounds. If an implanted device such as an artificial hip causes the bone infection, your surgeon may remove the device. Expect the surgeon to also remove bullets, glass, shrapnel and other kinds of foreign bodies that contribute to the infected bone. Dying bone tissue can be replaced with healthy bone tissue if a transplant match is found. If surgical cleaning and subsequent antibiotic therapy are unable to fight of the infection, your surgeon may consider amputation of the dying bone tissue as a last resort.

2. Prepare for antibiotic therapy. Depending on the severity of the infection, medical personnel may inject antibiotics directly into the bone tissue or administer them intravenously before surgery. Antibiotics may also be used during the initial cleanup of the infected area during surgery. After surgery, ask your doctor how to administer antibiotics and other infection-fighting drugs during the outpatient phase of treatment in your home.

3. Rebuild the bone tissue. After surgery and antibiotic treatment, your doctor may implant external fixation devices such as steel rods to build up the recovering tissue. Although not aesthetically pleasing, these devices stabilize the area, allow blood flow and growth, and enable you to slowly put weight on the formerly infected area. Follow your doctor's orders regarding outpatient therapy and you will soon be on the way to healing your bone infection.

Tips & Warnings

• Surgery, antibiotics and external fixation devices should only be provided by doctors with extensive training in the field of treating bone infections.

References

• Bone Infection: Treatment