Osteomyelitis or Bone Infection

QUESTION: When my leg became tender and red after a minor injury, I didn't
pay much attention. However things got progressively worse, and when I
finally visited my doctor, more than a week had passed. I was both perplexed
and horrified when I was informed that I had a bone infection. How can this
be? I thought bones were made of just calcium.
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ANSWER: Many people believe that the bones which make up our skeleton are
identical to the ones you see hanging in biology labs in school. The truth is
that our bones are very much alive, requiring the ceaseless circulation of
blood that assures nutrition, and constantly are being resorbed and reformed
in a process known as modeling. Thus, as is the case with any living tissue,
bones may be attacked by bacterial infection. Although there are many
conditions which may predispose to bony infection (osteomyelitis) such as
dental abscesses, pulmonary infections, suppression of immune system,
diabetes, fractures, and even human bites, the most common in adults occurs
following an injury or trauma, or near a local infection. The symptoms
include pain and tenderness, fever, swelling and redness and eventually
ulceration and draining pus. The damage to the bone may be seen on x-ray, but
a careful clinical examination is still the best method for an early
diagnosis. Though once considered a killer, the era of antibiotics has
provided physicians with many weapons to attack and conquer osteomyelitis.