Question

Describe Changes Occurring at the Cellular, Tissue, and or Organ Level That Contributes to the Disease Process osteomyelitis

Answer 1

Describe Changes Occurring at the Cellular, Tissue, and or Organ Level That Contributes to the Disease Process osteomyelitis

The initial response to infection is inflammation, increased vascularity, and edema. After 2 or 3 days, thrombosis of the blood vessels occurs in the area, resulting in ischemia with bone necrosis.

The infection extends into the medullary cavity and under the periosteum and may spread into adjacent soft tissues and joints.

Unless the infective process is treated promptly, a bone abscess forms. The resulting abscess cavity contains dead bone tissue (the sequestrum), which does not easily liquefy and drain.

Therefore, the cavity cannot collapse and heal, as occurs in soft tissue abscesses. New bone growth (the involucrum) forms and surrounds the sequestrum.

When the infection is bloodborne, the onset is usually sudden,occurring often with the clinical manifestations of septicemia (eg;chills, high fever, rapid pulse, general malaise). The systemic symptoms at first may overshadow the local signs. As the infection extends through the cortex of the bone, it involves the periosteum and the soft tissues. The infected area becomes painful,swollen, and extremely tender.

The patient may describe a constant, pulsating pain that intensifies with movement as a result of the pressure of the collecting pus.

The osteomyelitis occurs from spread of adjacent infection or from direct contamination,there are no symptoms of septicemia. The area is swollen, warm,painful, and tender to touch.

The patient with chronic osteomyelitis presents with a continuously draining sinus or experiences recurrent periods of pain,

inflammation, swelling, and drainage. The low-grade infection thrives in scar tissue, because it has a reduced blood supply.