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PubMed1998

99mTc-nanocolloid scintigraphy for assessing osteomyelitis in diabetic neuropathic feet.

Distinguishing osteomyelitis from neuropathic osteoarthropathy in diabetic feet is a common and difficult clinical problem with no highly accurate discriminatory investigation. This study assesses the novel use of marrow scintigraphy and compares it with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for the diagnosis of osteomyelitis in neuropathic osteoarthropathic diabetic feet. Nine diabetic patients with chronic foot ulcers were prospectively assessed independently using 99mTc-nanocolloid scintigraphy and MRI. Those patients showing features of osteomyelitis underwent percutaneous bone biopsy or surgical ray excision for histological confirmation. Other patients were followed up clinically for a minimum of 6 months to exclude osteomyelitis. Marrow scintigraphy, in agreement with MRI, demonstrated all four cases of biopsy proven osteomyelitis and excluded three cases with neuropathic osteoarthropathy alone. One case of suspected osteomyelitis of the ankle on marrow scintigraphy, but not MRI, was not confirmed clinically. One case of suspected osteomyelitis on both imaging modalities was shown on biopsy to demonstrate changes of avascular necrosis but not osteomyelitis. In this study 99mTc-nanocolloid scintigraphy shows a sensitivity of 100% and specificity of 60%. An important false positive result is seen with avascular necrosis, both on marrow scintigraphy and on MRI. Although larger studies are needed to evaluate this technique, 99mTc-nanocolloid marrow scintigraphy may be an alternative to MRI for assessing diabetic feet for osteomyelitis.

Adult↗
PubMed1995

Evaluation of temporal and facial osteomyelitis by simultaneous In-WBC/Tc-99m-MDP bone SPECT scintigraphy and computed tomography scan.

A reliable imaging technique is needed for follow-up of patients with temporal and facial osteomyelitis. Clinical outcome in 20 patients with suspected osteomyelitis of the temporal/mastoid, calvarium, and mandible facial bones was evaluated with 30 combined In-WBC/Tc-99m MDP bone single photon emission computed tomographic (SPECT) scans and 27 computed tomographic scans. Simultaneous dual-tracer 25-minute SPECT scans were acquired 18 to 20 hours after radiotracer injection by use of a three-detector system. Diagnosis of the 20 patients (age range, 3 to 74 years) included 8 with facial osteomyelitis, 6 with malignant otitis externa, 3 with mandibular osteomyelitis, and 3 with calvarial osteomyelitis. Diagnosis was confirmed by biopsy/culture results in 18 patients and by endoscopic and clinical evaluation in 2 patients with initial negative scans. Of the 30 In-WBC/MDP scans, 15 were true-positive, 13 true-negative, 1 false-negative, and 1 equivocal. Of a total of 27 CT scans, 9 were true-positive, 5 false-negative, and 1 equivocal in patients with biopsy-proven osteomyelitis. Three computed tomographic scans were false-positive and 1 was equivocal in patients without osteomyelitis, because of concurrent postoperative bone abnormalities. Additionally, 8 computed tomographic scans were true-negative. These results suggest that dual In-WBC/Tc-99m MDP bone SPECT scintigraphy provides an accurate imaging modality for diagnosis and follow-up of temporal and facial osteomyelitis when existing clinical or postoperative bone changes make it difficult to detect active osteomyelitis by computed tomographic scan.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2000

Eikenella corrodens vertebral osteomyelitis secondary to direct inoculation: a case report.

STUDY DESIGN: A case report. OBJECTIVE: To present a unique method of inoculation with an unusual bacterial organism, Eikenella corrodens, which led to vertebral osteomyelitis and to heighten awareness of different bacterial organisms that may cause orthopedic infections. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: E. corrodens has been known to cause orthopedic infections for more than 20 years. The usual mechanism is from "Fight bite" injuries to the hand or metacarpal phalangeal joint. Eikenella osteomyelitis of the vertebral body is extremely rare. METHODS: A 65-year-old man from Indonesia developed slowly progressive vertebral collapse and worsening neck pain. History suggested a previous pharyngeal injury while eating fish. Work up for malignancy was negative, and imaging studies were suggestive of osteomyelitis. An open biopsy and culture as well as fusion were performed for treatment of the osteomyelitis. RESULTS: After a complete work up was undertaken, cultures grew out E. corrodens as the causative organism of this patient's osteomyelitis. Computed tomography scan and history were consistent with inoculation of the paravertebral space with E. corrodens secondary to a fish bone transgressing the patient's pharynx. The patient was treated with surgery and the appropriate antibiotics and healed without any significant sequela. CONCLUSION: Vertebral osteomyelitis due to E. corrodens is extremely rare. Direct inoculation as a cause of vertebral osteomyelitis with Eikenella has never been reported. If diagnosed properly with appropriate cultures and antibiotic sensitivities, Eikenella osteomyelitis can be treated successfully according to standard orthopedic practices including debridement, fusion, and appropriate antibiotics. Awareness of unusual bacteria as potential causative organisms of osteomyelitis is imperative for appropriate treatment.

Aged↗
PubMed2005

Muscle flaps in the treatment of osteomyelitis of the lower extremity.

Thirty three consecutive patients with chronic osteomyelitis and deficient soft tissue coverage treated with a muscle flap from 1991-1998 were reviewed retrospectively. Osteomyelitis was diagnosed by positive bone cultures and radiographic changes consistent with osteomyelitis. Osteomyelitis was divided into localized <50% diameter: 24 patients and diffuse >50% diameter or infected nonunion: 9 patients. The average age was 38 (18-74). The cause of the osteomyelitis was open fracture 23, closed fracture and open reduction internal fixation 5, gunshot wound 3, burn 1, and chronic venous stasis ulcer 1. Localized osteomyelitis was treated with saucerization and coverage with a free or rotational muscle flap. Pandiaphyseal osteomyelitis was treated with a complete diaphysectomy in 3, and wide saucerization in 2. Twenty three patients were treated with a free flap and 10 with a rotational flap.A reconstructive success was considered a limb that allowed full weight bearing with a stable wound, no drainage and no recurrence of infection. Patients were evaluated for risk factors: malnutrition, renal or liver failure, alcohol abuse, immune deficiency, chronic hypoxia, malignancy, diabetes, age over 70, steroid therapy, tobacco abuse, or drug abuse. Patients were followed an average of 34 months (12-58) after surgery. A reconstructive success was achieved in 91% (20/22) of patients with local osteomyelitis and in 56% (5/9) of patients with diffuse osteomyelitis (p < 0.05). A reconstructive success was achieved in 88% (7/8) patients with no risk factors and in 78% (18/23) of patients with one or more risk factors (not significant p = 0.05).

Adolescent↗
PubMed2006

Application of the polymerase chain reaction on formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissue in the recognition of tuberculous osteomyelitis.

A retrospective series of 45 cases of chronic osteomyelitis collected over a period of 14 years was histologically classified into tuberculous osteomyelitis (25) and chronic non-granulomatous osteomyelitis (20). The tuberculous osteomyelitis group was divided into three subgroups: a) typical granulomas (13 cases); b) ill-defined granulomas (seven cases), and c) suspected granulomas (five cases). An in-house polymerase chain reaction amplifying the 245 bp nucleotide sequence, and capable of detecting 10 fg of DNA of Mycobacterium tuberculosis, was used on the DNA extracted from the paraffin blocks. The polymerase chain reaction was positive in 72% of cases (18) of tuberculous osteomyelitis, but when typical cases of tuberculous osteomyelitis with confirmed granulomas were considered (13), this increased to 84.6% (11). The chronic non-granulomatous osteomyelitis group gave positive polymerase chain reaction results in 20% of the cases (4). Our preliminary study on tuberculous osteomyelitis shows that the polymerase chain reaction can be a very useful diagnostic tool, since a good correlation was seen between typical granulomas and polymerase chain reaction with a sensitivity of 84.6% and a specificity of 80%. In addition, our study shows that tuberculous osteomyelitis can be diagnosed in formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissues in the absence of typical granulomas.

Chronic Disease↗
PubMed2003

Autopsy-based assessment of extent and type of osteomyelitis in advanced-grade sacral decubitus ulcers: a histopathologic study.

CONTEXT: Decubitus ulcers constitute a serious medical problem, often encountered in association with hospitalization or institutionalization in senior citizens' or nursing homes. Potentially life-threatening sepsis has been reported to originate not only from soft tissue infection, but also from osteomyelitis as a complication of involvement of bone tissue in decubitus ulcers. OBJECTIVE: To assess the histopathology of osseous structures involved in grade IV decubitus ulcers. DESIGN: Autopsy-based histopathologic assessment of the presence and extent of osteomyelitis on os sacrum specimens from 28 deceased individuals with grade IV sacral decubitus ulcers using an undecalcified preparation following plastic embedding (staining with Goldner, Kossa modification, toluidine blue, and Giemsa). RESULTS: The histologic findings were classified in 4 types of pathomorphologic changes: type 1, decubitus ulcer confined to soft tissue, no inflammation (n = 7); type 2, decubitus ulcer involving bone, no inflammation (n = 7); type 3, decubitus ulcer involving bone, inflammation of soft tissue, no osteomyelitis (n = 1); and type 4, decubitus ulcer involving bone, presence of osteomyelitis (n = 13). Type 4 changes are further described as follows: type 4a, chronic osteomyelitis alone (n = 6); and type 4b, chronic and acute osteomyelitic changes (n = 7). More than half of the cases (n = 15) showed no inflammatory reaction within the medullary cavity (types 1-3). In all cases with osteomyelitis, inflammation was exclusively confined to the superficial parts of the os sacrum. Chronic osteomyelitis was seen in all cases in which osteomyelitis was present. In addition, mild acute osteomyelitic changes were observed in 7 cases. Severe liquefying osteomyelitis affecting deeper layers of the os sacrum was not found. Sepsis was present in 2 cases; in one of these cases, the decubitus ulcer was considered a possible source of infection. CONCLUSIONS: Our results provide evidence that in cases of grade IV decubitus ulcers, the macroscopic aspect and clinical imaging techniques may lead to an overestimation of the extent of osseous involvement. We suggest that the investigation of bone biopsies is not necessary in a considerable proportion of cases of grade IV decubitus ulcers in patients without sepsis, as the minor osseous alterations are of little consequence when establishing a therapeutic approach.

Aged↗
PubMed2000

Scintigraphic evaluation of experimental chronic osteomyelitis.

UNLABELLED: Assessment of disease activity and disease extent in chronic osteomyelitis remains a difficult diagnostic problem. Radiography is not particularly sensitive. Scintigraphic techniques can be more helpful, but the routinely available agents lack specificity (99mTc-methylene diphosphonate [MDP], 67Ga-citrate) or are laborious to prepare (111In-leukocytes). We evaluated the performance of 2 new radiopharmaceuticals, 99mTc-polyethyleneglycol (PEG) liposomes and 99mTc-hydrazinonicotinamide (HYNIC)-immunoglobulin G (IgG), in an experimental model of chronic osteomyelitis. METHODS: Chronic osteomyelitis was induced in rabbits by inserting S. aureus into the right reamed and washed femoral canal. The canal was closed with cement. A sham operation was performed on the left femur. Routine radiographs were obtained immediately after surgery and before scintigraphy. Four weeks after surgery, each rabbit was injected with 37 MBq 99mTc-PEG liposomes, 99mTc-HYNIC-IgG, and 99mTc-MDP on 3 consecutive days and imaged up to 4 (MDP) or 22 (liposomes and IgG) h after injection. On day 4, rabbits received either 18 MBq 111In-granulocytes or 67Ga-citrate and were imaged up to 44 h after injection. Uptake in the infected femur was determined by drawing regions of interest. Ratios of infected-to-sham-operated femur were calculated. After the last image, the rabbits were killed, and the left and right femur were scored for microbiologic and histopathologic evidence of osteomyelitis. RESULTS: 99mTc-PEG liposomes and 99mTc-HYNIC-IgG correctly identified all 6 rabbits with osteomyelitis. 11In-granulocytes and 67Ga-citrate gave equivocal results in 1 infected rabbit. 99mTc-MDP missed 1 case of osteomyelitis. The uptake in the affected region did not differ significantly between the agents, although 99mTc-MDP tended to have higher values (MDP, 4.75 +/- 1.23 percentage injected dose per gram [%ID/g]; 67Ga, 2.05 +/- 0.54 %ID/g; granulocytes, 1.56 +/- 0.83 %ID/g; liposomes, 1.75 +/- 0.76 %ID/g, and IgG, 1.96 +/- 0.27 %ID/g). The ratios of infected-to-normal femur were also not significantly different for the respective radiopharmaceuticals. Radiography visualized only severe osteomyelitis. CONCLUSION: In this rabbit model, 99mTc-PEG liposomes and 99mTc-HYNIC-IgG performed at least as well as 111In-granulocytes and 67Ga-citrate in the localization of chronic osteomyelitis. The ease of preparation, the better image quality, and the lower radiation dose suggest that 99mTc-PEG liposomes and 99mTc-HYNIC-IgG might be suitable alternatives for 67Ga-citrate and 111In-granulocytes in the scintigraphic evaluation of osteomyelitis.

Animals↗
PubMed1996

[Differential diagnosis of childhood osteomyelitis--classification according to scintigraphic, radiologic and magnetic resonance tomographic characteristics].

We present a retrospective study on children with the final diagnosis osteomyelitis, who have been examined in Tübingen from 1985 to 1991. The different types of infantile osteomyelitis were classified due to the causative organism and findings in 3-phase scintigraphy and X-ray films. For the chronic type of osteomyelitis the study was extended to the years from 1979 to 1991 and the results of an earlier report were included. We worked up 17 cases of acute/peracute osteomyelitis, including 5 cases of early infancy, 2 cases of tuberculosis, 2 Brodie's abscesses, 5 plasmacellular types, 2 cases of primary chronic multifocal osteomyelitis (PCMO), and 5 cases of unspecific chronic osteomyelitis. All cases were examined with scintigraphy, X-ray films and in part with magnetic resonance tomographic imaging. In 23 cases scintigrams and X-ray films were performed in the follow-up. We show the importance of scintigraphy for the early detection and localisation of osteomyelitis, the importance of findings on X-ray films for the specific diagnosis of osteomyelitis, and the importance of magnetic resonance tomography for high-resolution detection of the expansion of osteomyelitis.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed1983

Primary chronic osteomyelitis.

Plasma-cell osteomyelitis is a histological diagnosis and, in the opinion of some authors, is a disease entity which can be differentiated from the sclerosing osteomyelitis of Garré and Brodie's abscess. Our investigation of 12 patients with plasma-cell osteomyelitis leads us to a different conclusion. The radiological appearances are not specific and do not allow a definitive diagnosis of the type of osteomyelitis or the exclusion of other bone disorders. Although there were always an increased number of plasma cells in the specimens from our patients, there were frequently transitional appearances varying from sclerosing osteomyelitis to Brodie's abscess. For this reason, we suggest that the term "primary chronic osteomyelitis" should be used. This makes it possible to distinguish the condition from acute and secondary osteomyelitis as well as from other diseases, such as bone tumours. All our patients were treated by local resection of the osteomyelitis lesion and they all recovered uneventfully; there were no local recurrences.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2006

Infection and musculoskeletal conditions: Osteomyelitis.

Osteomyelitis can result from hematogenous or contiguous microbial seeding of the bone. Staphylococcus aureus is the most common infecting microorganism. Although any bone can potentially develop osteomyelitis, long-bone, vertebral, and foot osteomyelitis account for the majority of cases. Confirmatory diagnosis of osteomyelitis often depends on the results of a bone biopsy and bone cultures. Radiologic and laboratory studies are often helpful in leading to the diagnosis, determining the extent of the disease, and following up selected patients with osteomyelitis. Optimal therapy for osteomyelitis requires the collaboration of a multidisciplinary team of physicians. Debridement is often needed in contiguous osteomyelitis, whereas acute hematogenous and vertebral osteomyelitis can often be treated with a prolonged course of antimicrobial therapy.

Acquired Hyperostosis Syndrome↗
PubMed1999

The value of combined radionuclide and magnetic resonance imaging in the diagnosis and conservative management of minimal or localized osteomyelitis of the foot in diabetic patients.

Early diagnosis of osteomyelitis is helpful for a successful conservative treatment. The value of bone scanning combined with granulocytes labeled with hexamethylpropylene amine oxime (HMPAO) granulocyte-Tc99m (GN) radionuclide imaging (combined [RI]) with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for the diagnosis of osteomyelitis was assessed in 24 diabetic patients with foot ulcers. Evidence of osteomyelitis was based on the presence of at least one of the following criteria: (1) clinical bone involvement, (2) radiological bone involvement, (3) both positive combined RI and MRI, and (4) evidence of clinical bone involvement during the follow-up period. Thirteen patients had osteomyelitis. Seven patients had clinical bone involvement (sensitivity, 54%), five had radiological bone involvement (sensitivity, 38%), and 10 had positive combined RI for osteomyelitis (sensitivity, 77%). MRI demonstrated a higher sensitivity (100%). The specificity for combined RI and MRI was 82%. These results lead to a new diagnostic strategy for the early detection of minimal or localized osteomyelitis to avoid amputations. MRI is most appropriate following a negative x-ray in determining whether to treat osteomyelitis, since a negative MRI result rules out osteomyelitis. Antibiotic therapy should be used in the case of a positive MRI result, but Charcot joint disease can lead to false-positive MRI results. In this case, combined RI should be performed.

Aged↗
PubMed1992

Reversible renal failure due to IgA nephropathy associated with osteomyelitis.

Clinical features of acute glomerulonephritis, with microscopic hematuria, red blood cell (RBC) casts, proteinuria, and acute renal insufficiency developed in a patient with chronic osteomyelitis. Before the development of osteomyelitis, renal function and findings on urinalysis were normal. Complete eradication of osteomyelitis by surgical amputation led to resolution of the abnormal urinary findings, and renal function returned to near pre-osteomyelitis levels. Although acute glomerular disease has been reported to occur as a rare complication of osteomyelitis, the unique feature of the present case was the histological finding of IgA nephropathy. There was no arthritis, purpura, skin rash, or gastrointestinal involvement to suggest a diagnosis of Henoch-Schönlein purpura and there was no evidence of chronic liver disease. The temporal relationship between the onset of the renal disease, which followed the development of chronic osteomyelitis, and its resolution following removal of the focus of infection, suggests that the IgA nephropathy may have been related directly to the osteomyelitis (secondary IgA nephropathy). Glomerular diseases associated with chronic bacterial infections, including osteomyelitis, are discussed, with emphasis on infections that have been associated with the development or exacerbation of IgA nephropathy.

Acute Kidney Injury↗
PubMed1991

Cold defects in in-111 labeled leukocyte imaging of osteomyelitis in the axial skeleton.

Use of In-111 oxine labeled leukocytes in the detection of osteomyelitis of the peripheral skeleton usually presents few problems. However, the diagnosis of osteomyelitis is more difficult in marrow-bearing areas because uptake of indium is normal. Sixty-one In-111 labeled leukocyte scans, that had been performed to exclude osteomyelitis of the axial skeleton, pelvis, and proximal long bones, were reviewed. Eight cold defects were identified at sites of suspected osteomyelitis. Five of these were surgically proven osteomyelitis. Nineteen percent of all cases of osteomyelitis in these areas (5 of 26) presented as cold defects. This incidence of osteomyelitis presenting as cold defects is higher than previously reported. Therefore, the possibility of osteomyelitis should be strongly considered when a cold defect is identified in red marrow areas.

Humans↗
PubMed1992

Multifocal osteomyelitis in childhood. Review by radionuclide bone scan.

Multifocal osteomyelitis is considered an uncommon complication of acute osteomyelitis. Over a 3-year period, 136 infants and children who had a final diagnosis of acute osteomyelitis were reviewed, and multifocal osteomyelitis was detected in 27 (19%) patients. The major age peak of acute osteomyelitis was between 6 weeks and 3 years (46%). Two age peaks were found for multifocal disease-less than 6 weeks (38%), and 9 to 12 years (44%). Three patients with multifocal disease had septicemia and photon-deficient areas on bone scans. Another adolescent group had nonspecific bone and joint pain that in some cases persisted for more than 3 months and were finally diagnosed as multifocal osteomyelitis. Organisms were isolated in 15/27 (56%). Multifocal osteomyelitis is well recognized in the neonatel age group. However, it occurs more commonly than previously described in older patients. This higher incidence can most likely be attributed to the higher use of the radionuclide bone scan early in the disease and the high sensitivity of the scan for the detection of osteomyelitis.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed1999

Culture results in open wound treatment with muscle transfer for tibial osteomyelitis.

Fifty-three patients who underwent a two-staged protocol of debridement and muscle flap coverage for chronic osteomyelitis of the tibia between 1991 and 1996 were evaluated. All patients underwent a thorough debridement of all nonviable tissue and bone at initial debridement. Multiple cultures were taken, including aerobic, anaerobic and fungal cultures from the pus, soft tissue, bone curettings and bone. All patients were treated with open wound management and dressing changes. Between 2 to 7 days, median 4 days, all patients underwent a second debridement with a complete set of identical cultures, and immediate soft tissue muscle transfer. There were 42 free vascularized and 11 local tissue transfers. The 53 patients were classified according to the Cierny-Mader classification for chronic osteomyelitis. Twenty-four patients had Stage IVA osteomyelitis, 10 patients had Stage IIIA osteomyelitis, nine patients had Stage IIIB osteomyelitis, eight patients had Stage IVB osteomyelitis, one patient had Stage IA osteomyelitis, and one patient had Stage IIB osteomyelitis. All 53 patients had positive cultures at the time of their initial debridement, and 14 of 53 (26%) had a positive culture at the time of the second debridement. Based on the results, it seems from a bacteriologic stand-point that the second debridement allows for the opportunity for redebridement and wound sterilization of organisms that still may be present.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Osteomyelitis of the pelvis/hips in paralyzed patients: accuracy and clinical utility of MRI.

PURPOSE: The goal of our study was to determine the accuracy and clinical utility of MRI in the diagnosis of osteomyelitis of the pelvis/hips in paralyzed patients. METHOD: In 44 paralyzed patients, 59 consecutive MR examinations of the pelvis/hips were evaluated prospectively. Criteria for diagnosis of osteomyelitis were based on those established in previous studies of complex, nonhematogenous osteomyelitis (diabetic foot). Average follow-up was 3 years. The standard of reference for the diagnosis of osteomyelitis was histologic/microbiologic results of surgical biopsy specimens or clinical follow-up. Note was made if decubitus ulcers, sinus tract, fistula, fluid collection, abscess, septic arthritis, joint effusion, bursitis, or heterotopic ossification was present on MRI. Comparison of the extent of infection by MRI and surgical margins was performed. Effect on surgical treatment was defined by absence of recurrent infection at the surgical site within 6 weeks of limited resection. RESULTS: The criteria for diagnosis of osteomyelitis were fulfilled in 49 of 57 MR studies for an overall accuracy of 97%. There was one false-negative MR study. MRI for the diagnosis of osteomyelitis yielded a sensitivity of 98% and a specificity of 89%. There were 41 decubitus ulcers, 28 sinus tracts, 2 fistulae, 14 fluid collections, 15 abscesses, 9 hips with septic arthritis, 10 "bland" hip effusions, 5 cases of trochanteric bursitis, and 30 patients with heterotopic ossification. Twenty-one patients underwent limited surgical resection guided by MR findings in which only the enhancing area was resected. There was only one recurrence of osteomyelitis at the surgical margins. CONCLUSION: MRI is accurate in the diagnosis of osteomyelitis and associated soft tissue abnormalities in spinal cord-injured patients. MRI can delineate the extent of infection in guiding limited surgical resection and preserving viable tissue.

Abscess↗
PubMed1996

Local and systemic inflammatory mediator release in patients with acute and chronic posttraumatic osteomyelitis.

The local and systemic release of thromboxane A2, prostaglandin I2, leukotriene B4 (LTB4), tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha), interleukin-1 beta (IL-1 beta), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and interleukin-8 (IL-8) were studied before and after operation in 29 patients with acute and 22 with chronic posttraumatic osteomyelitis. Twenty patients without osteomyelitis, who underwent operations for fractures of the lower extremities, served as controls. Blood and tissue samples from the osteomyelitic and control groups were collected under defined conditions and mediators were determined by radioimmunoassay (thromboxane B2, 6-keto-prostaglandin F1 alpha, LTB4) or by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (TNF-alpha, IL-1 beta, and IL-8). In addition, common parameters (leukocyte count, C-reactive protein, temperature) were measured. The best correlation with acute disease activity was given by TNF-alpha, IL-6, IL-8, and LTB4. Plasma levels of these mediators in acute osteomyelitis were significantly increased compared to chronic osteomyelitis and to controls, respectively. Tissue samples from osteomyelitic focus showed significantly increased levels for IL-8, IL-6, TNF-alpha, IL-1 beta, and LTB4 in acute osteomyelitis, whereas the values for TxB2 and 6-keto-prostaglandin F1 alpha were only slightly increased compared to the chronic osteomyelitis group. This study describes the local and systemic liberation of various mediators in acute and chronic posttraumatic osteomyelitis in detail for the first time and provides data for pre- and postoperative monitoring of disease activity and demonstrates new pathogenetic and therapeutic aspects of bone modulation in osteomyelitis.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed1996

Spinal osteomyelitis presenting with a life-threatening pleural empyema.

STUDY DESIGN: This case report illustrates a rare presentation of spinal osteomyelitis that initially manifested as a life-threatening pleural empyema leading to misdiagnosis. OBJECTIVES: A high index of suspicion is required to make the correct diagnosis of spinal osteomyelitis, especially with unusual presentations. Appropriate antibiotic management should be commenced immediately the diagnosis is made. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: A review of the literature reveals five previous cases of vertebral osteomyelitis associated with pleural effusions. In three of these, the effusions were reactive and sterile. There is only one previous case of a pleural empyema related to primary spinal osteomyelitis. There also is one case report of vertebral osteomyelitis presenting as a mediastinal abscess. METHODS: A case is presented of a man thought to have bronchogenic carcinoma with a destructive vertebral metastasis who was sent for palliative radiation therapy. A life-threatening pleural effusion subsequently developed, and after additional investigation, he was found to have spinal osteomyelitis with a pleural empyema. RESULTS: The empyema was drained through an indwelling chest tube, and the patient was administered appropriate antibiotics. He made a complete and uneventful recovery. CONCLUSIONS: The case illustrates a rare presentation of spinal osteomyelitis. It exemplifies the dictum that if a malignant disease is suspected, every effort has to be made to establish a histologic diagnosis to prevent inappropriate management and the potentially devastating consequences of an incorrect diagnosis. It also high-lights the difficulties in diagnosis of vertebral osteomyelitis with empyema. With correct management, the prognosis is excellent.

Abscess↗