Bone infections in general

  • Routes of infection:
    • “Inoculated” at time of fracture
    • Extension from other infected sites (sinuses, middle ear, joints)
    • Haematogenous (young farm animals)
  • Gross lesions
    • Suppurative exudate (in bacterial infection), necrosis, bone proliferation, pathological fractures
    • Dead bone portions may be separated from blood supply and form bone sequestra
  • Consequences
    • Extension to adjacent bone
    • Haematogenous spread to other bones and soft tissue
    • Pathologic fractures
    • Sinus tracts to exterior
  • Osteitis = inflammation of bone
  • Periostitis = inflammation of periosteum, usually develops from infection in adjacent tissues
  • Osteomyelitis = inflammation of medullary cavity

Osteitis