Osteomyelitis and the Differential Diagnosis of the Disease Case Study

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Updated: Apr 10th, 2024

Introduction

Osteomyelitis is a serious pathogen contamination of the bone and encompassing tissues that require prompt treatment. Although osteomyelitis affects the bone, the contamination starts from other body parts and spreads to the bone through the blood stream (Donohoe 85). Osteomyelitis is a bone irritation created by microscopic organisms. The contamination follows three routes into the body, which includes the bloodstream or hematogenous spread, nearby delicate tissue contamination or touching center and direct presence of microorganisms. Incessant osteomyelitis happens because of loss of blood supply to bone. By implication, the blood stoppage is caused by dead tissues. Individuals with diabetes, hemodialysis, endured injuries, and patients who misuse IV medications are considered on a higher danger of incessant osteomyelitis. As indicated by the accessible measurements, one individual among 5000 individuals is infected with osteomyelitis (“Whole-body MR Useful in Detecting Rare Bone Disease” par. 4).

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The human bones manage and organize the body’s skeletal framework. Without our bones, we cannot move, sit, or hold our organs and weight. Osteomyelitis speaks to an intense or ceaseless contamination of the bone. The term osteo alludes to bone and myelo to the marrow hole, both of which are included in this illness. Regardless of the utilization of anti-infectious agents, these contaminations stay hard to treat and kill. A wide range of life forms, including parasites, infections, microbes, and growths can bring about osteomyelitis, however certain pyogenic microorganisms and mycobacteria are generally basic. Osteomyelitis after injury or bone surgery as a rule is connected with tenacious or intermittent fevers, expanded torment at the agent or injury site, and poor incisional recuperating, which regularly is joined by advanced wound waste and division (Donohoe 98).

The trademark highlight of incessant osteomyelitis is the manifestation of a sequestrum or portion of dead bone that has isolated structure encompassing the living bone. A sheath of new bone, called the involcrum, conforms to the dead bone. Radiologic procedures, for example, x-ray films, bone sweeps, and sinograms are utilized to diagnose the contaminated site. Constant osteomyelitis or contamination around an aggregate joint prosthesis can be hard to analyze because the exemplary indications of disease are not evident and the blood leukocyte number may not be lifted. A sub-clinical contamination may exist for quite a long time. Bone examinations are utilized as a part of a conjunction with bone biopsy for a complete conclusion.

Injury can be huge and can incorporate restricted the spread of disease to delicate tissues or joints, advancement to interminable contamination with torment and handicaps, elimination of the complicated boundary, widespread contamination, or sepsis. Surveys revealed that 10-15% of patients with vertebral osteomyelitis develop neurologic discoveries or plain spinal-string pressure (Suzanne and Brenda 130). Consequently, 30% of individuals with bone osteomyelitis have profound venous thrombosis (DVT). The expansion of deep venous thrombosis indicates the spread contamination (Suzanne and Brenda 133). Death rates are low, unless related sepsis or a hidden genuine medicinal condition is available. There are no exemptions for osteomyelitis concerning race. However, previous literatures on osteomyelitis revealed that male-to-female proportion is around 2:1 (Suzanne and Brenda 145). This next section will discuss the physiology and anatomy of the human bone.

Physiology and Anatomy: Musculoskeletal Classification

A musculoskeletal system is an organ structure that gives individuals the capacity to move utilizing the solid and skeletal frameworks. The musculoskeletal framework gives structure, bolster, security, and development of the body. It is comprised of the body’s bone (the skeleton), muscles, ligament, tendons, joints, and other connective tissue (ties tissues and organs). The functions of the musculoskeletal framework include body support, permit movement, and securing indispensable organs. The skeletal segment of the framework serves as the principle-stockpiling framework for calcium and phosphorus and contains basic segments of the hematopoietic framework.

This framework portrays bone connections, mechanisms, and muscle filaments by means of connective tissue, for example, tendons and ligaments. To permit movement, diverse bones are associated with joints. Ligament keeps the bone closures from rubbing on to each other. Muscles contract (bundle up) to move the bone connected at the joint. However, illnesses and scatters may antagonistically influence the capacity and general viability of the framework. These illnesses can be hard to analyze because of the connection of the musculoskeletal framework to other inner frameworks.

Case Report

Patient History

The patient is a 2-year-old white child who allegedly tumbled from an auto on March 19. She was inspected in a nearby crisis room and her skull was radiographed. She was found to have no fractured bones and was released. She ambulated taking after the mishap; however, on March 27 she was noted to experience issues in strolling. The challenges with strolling exacerbated, and she was alluded to an orthopedist on April 4. Radiographs demonstrated some periosteal response, steady with a crack of the distal femur, and she was set in a long-leg cast. She was taken out of the cast on May 24. Around then, the break was recuperated, and the patient was permitted to ambulate with full weight bearing. She regained wellness until July 26, when a delicate tissue mass showed up over the horizontal part of the distal femur. X-rays demonstrated radiolucency in the distal femur, and she was alluded to an orthopedic specialist. Consequently, the x-ray indicated horizontal and tissue swelling near the distal femur, developed the periosteal bone, and a radiolucency in the distal femoral metaphysis that seemed to reach through the physis. The MRI examination affirmed a liquid filled radiolucency in the distal femur that connected with the delicate tissues through the distal femur. An open biopsy was performed and tissues were sent for histopathologic examination. An investigation of the femur uncovered that the depression reached the epiphysis through the physis. However, the patient died in August and a dissection was performed.

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The Patient Imaging Procedures: X-Ray Film

The first probable differential diagnosis is the deep vein thrombosis (DVT), which is influenced by the immobility of the knee and causes congestive heart failure. By implication, congestive heart failure could be the reason for the patient’s cardiorespiratory failure and death. DVT occurs when blood coagulation (thrombus) shapes in one or a greater amount of veins in the body and legs. DVT facilitates leg agony or swelling, however, the infection may occur without manifestations. Deep vein thrombosis is a genuine condition since blood clumps in your veins can loosen up, go through your circulation system, settles in the lungs, and block the blood stream. This differential diagnosis could be the cause of death. Osteoporosis is the second probable differential diagnosis. The clinical features of osteoporosis include bone density, Asymptomatic, spongy bone, and the lumbar region. The risk factors of osteoporosis include white race, age, dementia, patient history, body weight, alcohol intake, recurrent falls, poor health, and impaired sight. The pathogenesis of osteoporosis leads to lower levels of IGF-1, TGF-B, which lowers the osteoblast function causes death. Varying levels of TNFa, IL-1 lead to greater survival of mesenchymal cells. The third possible differential diagnosis is osteomyelitis. Osteomyelitis means the direct deposition of the bacteria into tissue and then it infiltrates the bone. However, the clinical features of osteomyelitis include fever, leukocytosis, local pain, and swelling. The X-ray test requires one-week rest to reveal the bone damage. The symptoms are generalized so this can often go undiagnosed. Please note that bacteria (Staphylococcus aureus) cause the pathogenesis of osteomyelitis. The routes of transmission could be

  1. Hematogenous dissemination. Direct extension from acute infection from the adjacent joint or soft tissue was observed. Consequently, there is a direct deposition of the bacteria into tissue and then it infiltrates the bone
  2. Traumatic implantation after compound fracture or orthopedic surgical procedures

Possible Differential Diagnosis 4: Osteosarcoma (However, osteosarcoma is not the cause of death).

Common location for femur, tibia, and humerus. This would metastasis to your lung and might lead to cardiorespiratory which is the death of the patient.

  1. Clinical feature
    1. Pain and discomfort in the lower femur.
    2. Bone fracture
    3. Bone tissue formation, limping, or swelling
    4. Large destructive, mixed lytic and blastic mass with infiltrating margins
  1. Pathogenesis
    1. Malignant tumor of bone

Results

Figure 1 displayed the patient’s knee scan. The scan was performed to check bone fracture and obtain a visual image of the knee. The scan would form the basis for patient evaluation. The knee radiograph revealed that a lytic lesion was visible on the radiograph. The visible lytic lesion was noticed near the distal metaphysis of the thighbone. By implication, the bone was fractured. The area of the injury (lesion) relies on the course by which microbes access the bone. The most widely recognized course is hematogenous. The key difference between the child’s bone and that of an adult is the presence of a physis (“Whole-Body MR Useful in Detecting Rare Bone Disease” par. 4). In proliferative zone, mitosis facilitates the chondrocytes division (“Physeal Anatomy” par. 2). However, figure 2 and 3 revealed the bone medium power and bone high power respectively. The microscopic calculation was used to detect the low, medium, and high bone power. The adjustments were done in accordance with scan procedures and practice. Figure 2 displayed a curetted specimen after surgery. The specimen reveals miniature debris of swollen tissues.

Consequently, the vessel is congested and surrounded by mineralized debris. The specimen indicates acute osteomyelitis. However, the higher microscopic strength would reveal the infiltrating cells in the specimen. By implication, the tissues in figure 2 are neutrophils. A specialist to ascertain the bone power must conduct the test. As a result, the patient is injected with a radioactive dye to improve bone visibility. The specialist relies on imaging modalities and high definition cameras to observe dark spots of damaged tissues and bones. The bone mineral density scan evaluates the risk of bone fractures. The scan in figure 4 revealed the bone fragments surrounded by cell infiltrate. However, the scan displays few neutrophils. By implication, surgery must be done to resolve the lesion complication. To avoid complication of the osteoclasts, surgery was needed to remove the necrotic bone. By implication, the empty lacunae are the histologic stamp of the osteomyelitis. However, the scan was influenced by osteomyelitis and direct extension from a focus of acute infection on the adjacent joint or soft tissue. As a result, there is a direct deposition of the bacteria in tissue and then it infiltrates the bone. Traumatic implantation after compound fractures or orthopedic surgical procedures influenced the medium-power scan.

The results in figure 4 revealed that the patient has bone fragment and fibrosis. Figure 5 revealed the leg gross of the patient. The test was performed to ascertain the cause of death. Consequently, the examination revealed the degree of infection and contamination. Figure 6 displayed the blood culture test of the patient. The test was the scan revealed a fractured bone, resorption tissues, and bone destruction. The results revealed small roundish bacteria. Closer analysis revealed that the specimen matched the features of Staphylococcus aureus. By implication, the bacteria are the contaminant and the cause of the disease. Staphylococcus aureus is gram-positive coccal bacterium. Staphylococcus aureus is the most probable contaminant from osteomyelitis infection. However, the exact pathogen was not described in the analysis. This cross-examination revealed the probable cause of death. The contamination site was caused by Staphylococcus aureus, however, the patient died of cardiorespiratory failure. Figure 7 revealed the patient’s blood smear. The Wright Giemsa stain is a scanning technique that facilitates bloodstain, examines bone marrow smears and blood diseases. The test was performed to observe bacterial infections and blood abnormalities. However, the test revealed the presence of contaminants around the infection site. As a result, the patient died of cardiorespiratory failure.

Discussion

Physiological and Pathophysiological Explanation

The above differential diagnosis may not have proofs to determine the cause of death. However, differential diagnosis 3 is the most reliable examination to ascertain the cause of death. Thus, the next section will summarize the pathophysiological explanation of osteomyelitis. Direct passage osteomyelitis can happen at any age when there is an open injury and microorganisms pick up section of the body. Osteomyelitis may happen within the sight of a remote body, for example, an insert or an orthopedic prosthetic gadget. During blood contamination, the microorganisms situate in the bone through the metaphysis. The microorganisms develop, bringing about an expansion of bone tissues. This expanding weight in the long-run prompts ischemia and vascular tradeoff of the periosteum. Inevitably, the disease goes through the bone cortex and marrow cavity, causing cortical devascularization and putrefaction. By implication, ischemia kills the bone tissues and cells. The territory of devitalized bone is isolated from the encompassing sequestra. The part of the periosteum that keeps blood supply for new marrows is called involucrum. (“Chronic Osteomyelitis in Children” par.3)

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Sequestrum may augment and serve as a site for microorganisms that spread to different locales, including the lungs and the cerebrum. The sequestrum can move out of the bone and into the delicate tissue. However, sequestrum can be surgically evacuated through debridement of the necrotic bone. In the event that the necrotic sequestrum is not determined normally or surgically, it might build up a sinus tract through a perpetual purulent cutaneous drainage (“Chronic Osteomyelitis in Children” par.3). Injury can be huge and can incorporate restricted the spread of disease to delicate tissues or joints, advancement to interminable contamination with torment and handicaps, elimination of the complicated boundary, widespread contamination, or sepsis. Constant osteomyelitis or contamination around an aggregate joint prosthesis can be hard to analyze because the exemplary indications of disease are not evident and the blood leukocyte number may not be lifted.

Works Cited

Chronic Osteomyelitis in Children 2005. Web.

Donohoe, Kati. “Selected topics in orthopedic nuclear medicine.” Orthopedic Clinics of North America 29.1 (1998): 85-101. Print.

2016. Web.

Suzanne, Smeltler, and B. Brenda. Textbook of Medical and Surgical Nursing. 10th ed. 2010. New York, USA. Williams Press. Print.

Whole-body MR Useful in Detecting Rare Bone Disease 2010. Web.

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