Osteomyelitis

Inflammation of the medullary component of the jawbone which spreads to involve the periosteium

Pathogeneis

  1. Odotogenic infection results in inflammation in the marrow spaces
  1. Inflammatory exudate spreads along the marrow spaces resulting in build up of pressure
  1. Build up of pressure results in thrombosis of blood vessels > depriving blood supply
  1. Ischaemia and necrosis of bone occur
  1. Liquefaction of necrotic tissue
  1. Lifting of periosteum due to further necrosis
  1. Osteoclastic activity then results in bone sequestreum

Mechanisms of infection

Odontogenic focus - caries > pulpal disease > periapical pathology

Trauma

Surgery

Spread from non-odontogenic infections

More likely to occur in MANDIBLE

maxilla has thin medullary bone and more vascular bone

Risk Factors

Local Risk Factors

Osteoporosis

Osteopetrosis

Paget's Disease

Radiotherapy

Bone Malignancy

Systemic Risk Factors

Diabetes

Malnutrition

Alcoholism

Sick Cell Anaemia

AIDS

Steroid use

Chemotherapy

Autoimmune disease

Acute Suppurative Osteomyletis

Chronic Suppurative Osteomyelitis

Garre's Osteomyeltis

Presentation

Treatment

Mimics a dental abecss

Pain

Swelling

Lymphadenopthy

Purulent exudate

anaesthesia/parathesia

fever

fistula formation

trismus

cellulitis

Hospitiliation to administer high dose anti-biotic therapy

Identify and treat the cause

Attempts at healing with granulation and new blood vessel formation

Predisposing Factors

Long term antibiotic use

Immunocompromised

Presentatiion

Pain

Swelling

Purulence

Non-healing socket

Intra-oral draining fistula

Management

Surgical Procedures

IV antibiotic therapy for 2 weeks or until signs of improvement for 48-72hrs

Oral antibiotic therapy for 4-6weeks after asymptomatic from date of last debridement

Drain and irrigate the area

removal of loose teeth and sequestra with resection and reconstruction where indictated

possible placement of irrigating drain/ PMMA antibiotic beads

Chronic osteomyelitis with new bone formation resulting from periosteal reaction to inflammatory/infectious stimulus

Imaging

Plain films - only show changes once bone resorbed

MRI

CT scan

Bone Scan