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Osteomyelitis: Treatment, Procedure, Cost and Side Effects

What is the treatment?

Osteomyelitis is a condition that causes inflammation of bone due to infection. Infection in a bone begins when an injury exposes to the bone to germs. In adults, it is generally in the spine (vertebrae). The long bones in the arms and legs of children get affected by osteomyelitis. Diabetic people may develop it in their feet if they have foot ulcers. Pain, swelling, warmth and redness over the area of infection as well as irritability and lethargy are some signs one should look out for. Some cases can be healed by medications. In other cases, the doctor may perform a surgery to cure your condition.

How is the treatment done?

The doctor will firstly test your blood to check the elevated level of white blood cells and other factors indicating the reason for infection. You will have to undergo x ray and computerized tomography (CT) scans to find out the exact condition of your bone from different angles. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is another test that uses radio waves and a strong magnetic field to produce exceptionally good images of bones and the tissues that surround them. Depending on the severity of your condition, your surgery may include different procedures. The doctor may open the area around your infected bone to drain any pus or fluid that is accumulated in response to your infection. Debridement is a procedure through which the doctor will remove as much of the diseased bone as possible. Surrounding tissues that show signs of infection are also removed along with the diseased bone. In extreme cases, the doctors may have to amputate the limb to stop the infection from spreading to the rest of the body.

Who is eligible for the treatment? (When is the treatment done?)

If you have had an injury recently and experience worsening pain in the bone along with fever; you must consult a doctor.

Who is not eligible for the treatment?

Minor bone pains may go away naturally in a few days.

Are there any side effects?

The antibiotics prescribed to relieve pain may result in temporary redness, itchiness or irritation in skin. There is nothing to be concerned about as the effects wear off soon.

What are the post-treatment guidelines?

You must follow the instructions provided by your doctor. Avoid activities that cause strain in the area of infection. Make sure that you are consuming a healthy and nutritious diet so that your body is able to make up for the lethargy caused by the bone infection.

How long does it take to recover?

It may take about four to six weeks to recover depending on the severity of your condition.

What is the price of the treatment in India?

The cost of x ray and computerized tomography (CT) scans may be between ₹2500 - ₹5000. The cost of surgery varies according to the severity of your condition and the number of procedures required.

Are the results of the treatment permanent?

The results of the treatment are mostly permanent.

What are the alternatives to the treatment?

There are no alternatives to this treatment.

Safety: Disease Effectiveness: Medium Timeliness: Medium Relative Risk: Medium Side Effects: Medium Time For Recovery: Medium Price Range:

Rs 2500 - Rs 3000

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I am Looking for orthopaedic doctor specifically for osteomyelitis. It is chronic and is there since childhood .every 2 months there is pain and pus discharge. But recently I see there was a bulge near the pain area. On doctor recommendation I did culture. It is a pus bulge and diagnosed as tb. Looking for doctor in Hyderabad. Area of pain is left hand between shoulder and elbow.

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Orthopedist, Delhi

If it T B, Feel happy, because it is curable with anti TB drugs. Kindly show me x rays of the affected site along with other test reports.

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Hi I was suffering from low back pain since 2012 and was diagnose with lumbar disc prolapse at L5-S1 & L4-L5 disc bulge on an MRI report. On this my neurologist suggest me to go for percutaneous endoscopic lumbar desctomy which I went through in jan 2018 before that I was seeking physiotherapy sessions to reduce my pain but later it was unbearable so I went for surgery. But after a month my problem came back again, so I consult my surgeon to this query and after review he suggested me a rhueaumatogist I consulted with the one and he asked me to do a HLA B-27 blood test which was positive on report. Before that my surgeon conducted F-18 bone test in which I was suffering with sarcolities infection which was treated now that I am suffering from ankylosing arthritis Dr. Suggested me to a course in which medication and physiotherapy are one of them. My question is that with all this on I'm still suffering the pain please advice me what are the other steps shall I take to recover fully?

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Hello sir ,follow back extention exercises in physio clinic, tens with hot fomentation help to reduce pain ,avoid forward bending, avoid heavy lifting, posture correction, use spinal brace to positional spine in neutral position. Take mild pain ki...

I had an osteomyelitis abscess removal surgery of tibia on 17 May 2018. There is no infection left in my body now but doctors had advised me bed rest. When would I be able to walk?

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You can contact your treating doctor and get an xray done to confirm your bone health status and start with Physiotherapy treatment after clinical examination.