CHRONIC ODONTOGENIC OSTEOMYELITIS OF THE JAWS: CLINICAL FEATURES, DIAGNOSIS, TREATMENT, COMPLICATIONS AND THEIR PREVENTION.

Osteomyelitis Jaw

Osteomyelitis is an infection of the bone. It can be caused by a variety of microbial agents (most common in staphylococcus aureus) and situations, including:

• An open injury to the bone, such as an open fracture with the bone ends piercing the skin.

• An infection from elsewhere in the body, such as pneumonia or a urinary tract infection that has spread to the bone through the blood (bacteremia, sepsis).

• A minor trauma, which can lead to a blood clot around the bone and then a secondary infection from seeding of bacteria.

• Bacteria in the bloodstream bacteremia (poor dentition), which is deposited in a focal (localized) area of the bone. This bacterial site in the bone then grows, resulting in destruction of the bone. However, new bone often forms around the site.

• A chronic open wound or soft tissue infection can eventually extend down to the bone surface, leading to a secondary bone infection.

Osteomyelitis affects about two out of every 10,000 people. If left untreated, the infection can become chronic and cause a loss of blood supply to the affected bone. When this happens, it can lead to the eventual death of the bone tissue.

Osteomyelitis can affect both adults and children. The bacteria or fungus that can cause osteomyelitis, however, differs among age groups. In adults, osteomyelitis often affects the vertebrae and the pelvis. In children, osteomyelitis usually affects the adjacent ends of long bones. Long bones (bones of the limbs) are large, dense bones that provide strength, structure, and mobility. They include the femur and tibia in the legs and the humerus and radius in the arms.

Osteomyelitis does not occur more commonly in a particular race or gender. However, some people are more at risk for developing the disease, including:

• People with diabetes

• Patients receiving hemodialysis

• People with weakened immune systems

• People with sickle cell disease

• Intravenous drug abusers

• The elderly

Symptoms of osteomyelitis

The symptoms of osteomyelitis can include:

• Pain and/or tenderness in the infected area

• Swelling and warmth in the infected area

• Fever

• Nausea, secondarily from being ill with infection

• General discomfort, uneasiness, or ill feeling

• Drainage of pus through the skin

Additional symptoms that may be associated with this disease include:

• Excessive sweating

• Chills

• Lower back pain (if the spine is involved)

• Swelling of the ankles, feet, and legs

• Changes in gait (walking pattern that is a painful, yielding a limp)

Diagnosing osteomyelitis

To diagnose osteomyelitis, the doctor will first perform a history, review of systems, and a complete physical examination. In doing so, the physician will look for signs or symptoms of soft tissue and bone tenderness and possibly swelling and redness. The doctor will also ask you to describe your symptoms and will evaluate your personal and family medical history. The doctor can then order any of the following tests to assist in confirming the diagnosis:

• Blood tests: When testing the blood, measurements are taken to confirm an infection: a CBC (complete blood count), which will show if there is an increased white blood cell count; an ESR (erythrocyte sedimentation rate); and/or CRP (C-reactive protein) in the bloodstream, which detects and measures inflammation in the body.

• Blood culture: A blood culture is a test used to detect bacteria. A sample of blood is taken and then placed into an environment that will support the growth of bacteria. By allowing the bacteria to grow, the infectious agent can then be identified and tested against different antibiotics in hopes of finding the most effective treatment.

• Needle aspiration: During this test, a needle is used to remove a sample of fluid and cells from the vertebral space, or bony area. It is then sent to the lab to be evaluated by allowing the infectious agent to grow on media.

• Biopsy: A biopsy (tissue sample) of the infected bone may be taken and tested for signs of an invading organism.

• Bone scan: During this test, a small amount of Technetium-99 pyrophosphate, a radioactive material, is injected intravenously into the body. If the bone tissue is healthy, the material will spread in a uniform fashion. However, a tumor or infection in the bone will absorb the material and show an increased concentration of the radioactive material, which can be seen with a special camera that produces the images on a computer screen. The scan can help your doctor detect these abnormalities in their early stages, when X-ray findings may only show normal findings.

Treating and managing osteomyelitis

The objective of treating osteomyelitis is to eliminate the infection and prevent the development of chronic infection. Chronic osteomyelitis can lead to permanent deformity, possible fracture, and chronic problems, so it is important to treat the disease as soon as possible.

Drainage: If there is an open wound or abscess, it may be drained through a procedure called needle aspiration. In this procedure, a needle is inserted into the infected area and the fluid is withdrawn. For culturing to identify the bacteria, deep aspiration is preferred over often-unreliable surface swabs. Most pockets of infected fluid collections (pus pocket or abscess) are drained by open surgical procedures.

Medications: Prescribing antibiotics is the first step in treating osteomyelitis. Antibiotics help the body get rid of bacteria in the bloodstream that may otherwise re-infect the bone. The dosage and type of antibiotic prescribed depends on the type of bacteria present and the extent of infection. While antibiotics are often given intravenously, some are also very effective when given in an oral dosage. It is important to first identify the offending organism through blood cultures, aspiration, and biopsy so that the organism is not masked by an initial inappropriate dose of antibiotics. The preference is to first make attempts to do procedures (aspiration or bone biopsy) to identify the organisms prior to starting antibiotics.

Splinting or cast immobilization: This may be necessary to immobilize the affected bone and nearby joints in order to avoid further trauma and to help the area heal adequately and as quickly as possible. Splinting and cast immobilization are frequently done in children, although motion of joints after initial control is important to prevent stiffness and atrophy.

Surgery: Most well-established bone infections are managed through open surgical procedures during which the destroyed bone is scraped out. In the case of spinal abscesses, surgery is not performed unless there is compression of the spinal cord or nerve roots. Instead, patients with spinal osteomyelitis are given intravenous antibiotics. After surgery, antibiotics against the specific bacteria involved in the infection are then intensively administered during the hospital stay and for many weeks afterward.

With proper treatment, the outcome is usually good for osteomyelitis, although results tend to be worse for chronic osteomyelitis, even with surgery. Some cases of chronic osteomyelitis can be so resistant to treatment that amputation may be required; however, this is rare. Also, over many years, chronic infectious draining sites can evolve into a squamous-cell type of skin cancer; this, too, is rare. Any change in the nature of the chronic drainage, or change of the nature of the chronic drainage site, should be evaluated by a physician experienced in treating chronic bone infections. Because it is important that osteomyelitis receives prompt medical attention, people who are at a higher risk of developing osteomyelitis should call their doctors as soon as possible if any symptoms arise.

Osteomyelitis for Jaw Treatment

Osteomyelitis occurs when a bone becomes infected. Though osteomyelitis most often occurs in the bones of the limbs, spine and pelvis, it can also affect the jaw. Osteomyelitis in the jaw is a rare condition that once had been thought incurable, however advances in medicine make the condition treatable. It can present itself in either acute or chronic forms. Osteomyelitis is a serious condition and if proper treatment is not sought, it can destroy your bones.

Symptoms

The symptoms for people with osteomyelitis in the jaw include pain and tenderness, swelling around the jaw, drainage in the sinus cavity, loss of teeth, discharging of pus and necrotic bones. Factors that can lead to osteomyelitis include tobacco, anaemia, viral infections and malnutrition. Since the condition exhibits symptoms that are common in many other diseases, osteomyelitis can be difficult to diagnose at first. If you have chronic osteomyelitis, debilitating fatigue is also very common symptom.

Diagnosis

If your doctor suspects osteomyelitis, he will order various tests before he can make a firm diagnosis. Though a blood test does not define an osteomyelitis diagnosis, a high level of white blood cells will indicate that body is fighting off an infection. If your osteomyelitis is advanced, an X-ray will show the extent of the damage. If you need a better image, your doctor may recommend a CAT scan or MRI. Your doctor may also remove a piece of your bone for a biopsy. This biopsy will check for the strain of bacteria that has infected your bone.

Treatment

Most often infections of the jaw are polymicrobial oral flora so a regimen of antibiotics are used to treat the infection. You doctor may prescribe penicillin, clindamycin and metronidazole. Depending on the extent of the infection, surgery may be required. Your doctor will decide which procedure is best based on the damage caused by the infection. Some bone and tissue may need to be removed, fractures repaired and rotten teeth extracted. You may also want to consult with an oral-maxillofacial surgeon to see if facial reconstruction is required.

Osteomyelitis
Osteomyelitis is a rare complication of tooth-related infections (incidence of 25 in 100,000).  In most cases, it is the result of spread of infection from a dento-
alveolar (tooth) or periodontal (pyorrhoea / gum disease) abscess or from the para-nasal sinuses, by way of continuity through tissue spaces and planes.  It occasionally occurs as a complication of  jaw fractures or as a result of manipulations during surgical procedures.
Most patients are adult males with infection of the mandible (lower jaw).
Osteomyelitis of the maxilla (upper jaw) is a rare disease of neonates (newly born) or infants after either birth injuries or uncontrolled middle ear infection.
It is classified as acute or chronic osteomyelitis.
Acute Osteomyelitis
In the acute form (which rarely, may also be of hæmatogenous origin [i.e. seeded from the blood stream]), the infection begins in the medullary cavity (bone marrow) of the bone.  The resulting increase of intra-bony pressure leads to a decreased blood supply (and hence diminution of white blood cells and other immune
components) and spread of the infection, by way of the Haversian canals of the bone, to the cortical bone (definition) and periosteum (below the periosteum, a thick
fibrous two-layered membrane covering the surface of bones).  This aggravates the ischæmia (decreased blood supply), resulting in necrosis (the death of cells or tissues from severe injury or disease, especially in a localised area of the body.  Causes of necrosis include inadequate blood supply [as in infarcted tissue], bacterial infection, traumatic injury and hyperthermia) of the bone.
Acute Osteomyelitis of the Jaws — Potential Sources of
Infection

• Peri-apical infection

• A periodontal pocket involved in a fracture

• Acute gingivitis or pericoronitis (even more rarely)

• Penetrating, contaminated injuries (open fractures or
  gunshot wounds)

Important Predisposing Conditions for Osteomyelitis
Local Damage to / Disease of the Jaws

• Fractures, including gunshot wounds

• Radiation damage

• Paget’s disease

• Osteopetrosis

Impaired Immune Defences

• Acute leukaemia

• Poorly-controlled diabetes mellitus

• Sickle cell anaemia

• Chronic alcoholism or malnutrition

• AIDS

 

• Infection from micro-organisms with great virulence.  
  In such cases, even a peri-apical abscess may be
  implicated in osteomyelitis.

Acute Osteomyelitis of the Jaws — Key Features

• Mandible mainly affected, usually in adult males

• Infection of dental origin – anærobes are important

• Pain and swelling of jaw

• Teeth in the area are tender; gingivæ (gums) are red
  and swollen

• Sometimes paræsthesia of the lip

• Minimal systemic upset

• After about 10 days, X-rays show ‘moth-eaten’
  pattern of bone destruction

• Good response to prompt antibiotic treatment and
  debridement

The mandible (lower jaw), due to decreased vascularity (blood supply & flow), is
involved 6 times more often than the maxilla (upper jaw).
The mandible has a relatively limited blood supply and dense bone with thick bony
(cortical) plates.  Infection causes acute inflammation in the medullary (bone
marrow) soft tissues and inflammatory exudate (a fluid with a high content of
protein and cellular debris which has escaped from blood vessels and has been
deposited in tissues or on tissue surfaces, usually as a result of inflammation. It
may be septic or non-septic) spreads infection through the marrow spaces.  It also
compresses blood vessels confined in the rigid boundaries of the vascular canals.

Thrombosis (the formation or presence of a thrombus [a clot of coagulated blood
attached at the site of its formation] in a blood vessel) and obstruction then lead to
further bone necrosis.

Dead bone is recognisable microscopically by lacunae (a cavity, space, or
depression, especially in a bone, containing cartilage or bone cells) empty of
osteocytes (a cell characteristic of mature bone tissue.  It is derived from
osteoblasts and embedded in the calcified matrix of bone. Osteocytes are found in
small, round cavities called lacunae and have thin, cytoplasmic branches) but filled
with neutrophils (white blood cells) and colonies of bacteria which proliferate in the
dead tissue.

Pus, formed by liquefaction of necrotic soft tissue and inflammatory cells, is forced
along the medulla and eventually reaches the sub-periosteal region by resorption
(an organic process in which the substance of some differentiated structure that
has been produced by the body undergoes lysis and assimilation) of bone.  
Distension of the periosteum by pus stimulates sub-periosteal bone formation but
perforation of the periosteum by pus and formation of sinuses on the skin or oral
mucosa are rarely seeow.

At the boundaries between infected and healthy tissue, osteoclasts (a specialised
bone cell that absorbs bone) resorb the periphery of the dead bone, which eventually becomes separated as a sequestrum (a fragment of dead bone separated from healthy bone as a result of injury or disease).  Once infection starts to localise, new bone forms around it, particularly sub-periosteally.
Where bone has died and been removed, healing is by granulation with formation of
coarse fibrous bone in the proliferating connective tissue.  After resolution, fibrous
bone is gradually replaced by compact bone and remodelled to restore normal
bone tissue and structure (and function).
Piercing, deep and constant pain predominates in the clinical presentation in adults,
while low or moderate fever, cellulitis, lymphadenitis, or even trismus may also be
noted.
In the mandible, changes in sensation affecting the lower lip (paræsthesia or
dysæsthesia of the lower lip) may accompany the disease.  When the disease
spreads to the peri-osteum (definition) and the surrounding soft tissues, a firm
painful œdema (definition) of the region is observed, while the tooth becomes loose
and there is discharge of pus from the periodontium.  Radiographic examination
reveals osteolytic (definition) or radiolucent (definition) regions.
Therapy entails combined surgical (incision, drainage, extraction of the tooth and
removal of sequestrum) and chemo-therapeutic treatment (with antibiotics).
Summary of Treatment of Osteomyelitis
Essential Measures

• Bacterial sampling and culture

• Vigorous (empirical) antibiotic treatment

• Drainage

• Give specific antibiotics based on culture and sensitivities

• Give analgesics

• Debridement

• Remove source of infection, if possible

Adjunctive Treatment

• Sequestrectomy

• Decortication if necessary

• Hyperbaric oxygen*

• Resection and reconstruction for extensive bone destruction

*Mainly of value for osteo-radionecrosis and possibly, anærobic infections.

Anæsthesia of the lower lip usually recovers with elimination of the infection.  Rare
complications include pathological fracture caused by extensive bone destruction,
chronic osteomyelitis after inadequate treatment, cellulitis due to spread of
exceptionally virulent bacteria or septicæmia in an immuno-deficient patient.

Chronic Osteomyelitis

Chronic osteomyelitis is characterised by a clinical course lasting over a month.  It
may occur after the acute phase or it may be a complication of tooth-related
infection without a preceding acute phase.  The clinical presentation is milder, with
painful exacerbations and discharge of pus or sinus tracts.

Osteomyelitis – Inflammation of the Bone

The terms osteomyelitis, periostitis and ostitis are frequently used as synonyms for inflammation of the bone.

Let’s have a quick look at the definition of the terms. Since the bone itself (the calcium structure) cannot get inflamed osteomyelitis (meaning bone marrow inflammation) and periostitis (meaning bone lining inflammation) would be the correct descriptions for an inflammation of the bone. Nevertheless ostitis is becoming more and more the term used.

The cause of an inflammation of the bone can come from outside – (exogenous factors) or from inside (endogenous factors). When both factors occur at the same time then we speak of combined forms. The so called idiopathic factors may also be regarded as a fourth form, consisting of bone inflammations of unidentifiable origin. Exogenous factors include, for example, numerous bacteria, viruses and fungi. They are potential pathogenic agents. If these pathogens find their way into our body they can cause an inflammation. If the inflammation gets into the bone then it’s a bone inflammation.

In the case of endogenous factors the cause lies in our own bodies. For example, in the case of diabetics the raised level of sugar of a diabetic leads to ever-increasing thickening of the walls of the blood vessels and thus an ever-poorer flow of blood.

The flow of blood can get so bad that certain areas of the body are no longer reached by it any more and the affected tissues die due to lack of oxygen and will be destroyed as a consequence of an inflammatory reaction – this can also occur in the bones, as shown in the animation and that would be an example of an endogenous osteomyelitis.

X-ray of Jaw Structure

Idiopathic osteomyelitis means to the patient that, at the end of the day the doctor cannot find an adequate explanation for it.

In the area of the jaw the most common causes of bone inflammation are exogenous or, more accurately, iatrogenous (caused by the doctor). Thus often extractions and/or badly root-treated teeth lead to bone infections.

In the picture you can see an x-ray of an extraction wound (circled in blue), the bone in this area is inflamed (circled in red) – osteomyelitis. In order to diagnose osteomyelitis an x-ray is usually required. In the same picture you can see a tooth (circled in green), which has an inflammation of the bone going on at the tip of the root (circled in red), as can be seen from the dark spot.

An x-ray can provide a lot of information about the bone but if precision is needed then a CT or MRT scan is very useful. This brings us to the diagnosis of osteomyelitis – CT and MRT scans are very reliable diagnostic aids at a certain stage of the osteomyelitis but at a very early stage of the illness their usefulness is rather limited.

Nuclear medical examinations such as skeletal cintography (Tc-99m) are frequently being made use of in order to detect osteomyelitis. The radioactive element technetium will be seen to be concentrated in the areas with raised bone metabolism after being applied intravenously. This increased concentration can be seen from the outside by means of a special camera (the darker spots in the exposure). Unfortunately it is not possible with this method to distinguish between the different causes of the raised bone metabolism.

Is the cause an inflammation or only an innocent build-up of bone after all?

With the addition of special factors (marked anti-granulocyte antibodies for additional investigation) the examination can however be made more specific. Blood tests are likewise not specific and unfortunately the blood values of the inflammation do not always correlate with the values of the osteomyelitis – especially in the jaw area. A bone biopsy is usually the most reliable means of diagnosis, as this way the bone can be viewed very precisely under the microscope (histological examination), and it may be possible to isolate the offending pathogen on the culture glass (bacteriology). If this succeeds then an antibiogram can be carried out in order to find the antibiotic with which to destroy the pathogen.

Bone Scan Scintigraphy

However, biopsy has a couple of disadvantages. The examination is invasive (therefore a wound is unavoidable) and not all areas of bone can be biopsied easily. Sometimes the bacteriological investigations are not successful or it may happen that during the taking of the sample there is contamination of the sample, for example by non-specific bacteria from the mouth.

Finally, let us take a look at the treatment options for osteomyelitis. There are various treatment options available – in the worst case the affected bone must be removed but this is very seldom necessary. The most frequent and simplest treatment option is the prescription of antibiotics, which can be swallowed or applied intravenously. The latter gives a higher concentration of the active ingredient in the blood.

By means of oxygen therapy we enrich the concentration of oxygen in the blood, since within the inflamed bone there is frequently insufficient blood supply and consequently, too little oxygen, ideal conditions for the multiplication of bacteria which do not tolerate oxygen – anaerobic bacteria as they are known. Oxygen-rich blood should have an effect on them, as per the motto: a little blood but very rich.

Another very much talked about treatment is the removal of the sick bone and the filling of the resultant gap with replacement donor bone which has been enriched with an antibiotic. In the animation you can see how the donor bone with the antibiotic (shown in green here) is put in place. The inflamed bone (shown in red here) will be removed and the donor bone will be inserted in the resulting cavity. The antibiotic will then pass continually into the body over months and simultaneously the replacement bone can regenerate.

The advantage of this treatment is that far higher concentrations of medication can be placed specifically in the affected area unlike with the usual means of application (orally or intravenously). Examination over a long period of time is still needed in order to evaluate this treatment over several years.

Ideally you want to avoid it getting to that stage. At least the iatrogenic forms of osteomyelitis can be avoided through sterilisation and cleanliness in the dental clinic.

Osteomyelitis

Odontogenic infection via a root canal, a periodontal pocket or an extraction wound is the most common local cause of osteomyelitis of the jaws. Rarely, a fracture serves as in infection route. Haematogenous spread of an infective agent from another part of the body also occurs. A distinct type of osteomyelitis, osteoradionecrosis, occurs after therapeutic irradiation of oral and neck malignancies.

Figure 20.
An ill-defined periapical and interdental osteolytic lesion in the mandibular anterior region three weeks after onset of clinical symptoms of osteomyelitis.

Figure 21.
Chronic suppurative osteomyelitis with three sequestra (arrows). Osteolytic as well as sclerotic areas are present.

Osteomyelitis is more common in the mandible than in the maxilla. In the mandible, it occurs predominantly in the posterior parts, the ramus included, whereas in the maxilla, it is more frequent in the anterior than in the posterior parts. In the acute phase, osteolysis is not visible radiographically until one or two weeks after the onset of clinical symptoms which are: pain, fever, local lymphadenopathy, increased white blood cell count, and teeth sensitive to percussion. Numbness of the lower lip is another common sign of mandibular osteomyelitis.

The initial radiographic changes are blurring and thinning of the trabeculae and subsequent enlargement of the bone marrow spaces. Without treatment, large volumes of the bone tissue can rapidly become involved, causing loosening of the teeth (Fig. 20).

If acute osteomyelitis becomes chronic, it is frequently possible to distinguish between chronic suppurative osteomyelitis (Fig. 21) and chronic sclerosing osteomyelitis (Fig. 22), both of which have ill-defined borders. In the suppurative form, radiolucent areas alternate with sclerotic, giving the bone a “moth-eaten” appearance. This is further enhanced when sequestra develop. In chronic sclerosing osteomyelitis, radiolucent areas occur, but there is a predominance of radiopaque changes due to the formation of sclerotic bone. The bone is often enlarged through periosteal bone formation (Figs. 22, 23). Over time, the distribution of sclerotic and radiolucent areas varies, indicating disease activity.

Figure 22.
Chronic sclerosing osteomyelitis of right mandible with some osteolytic areas. Ramus is enlarged.

b

Figure 23.
a) Right mandibular molars in a young patient. The alveolar bone is unevenly sclerotic; chronic sclerosing osteomyelitis.
b) Occlusal view of the same patient. Periosteal bone formation (arrow) on the buccal side of the mandible.

Fig. 1.

Cropped panoramic radiograph of suppurative osteomyelitis at the right mandible. Osteolytic change is observed from around the molar tooth roots to the body of the mandible (arrows).

How to Diagnose Osteomyelitis

Osteomyelitis is an infection of the bone, generally caused by the Staphylococcus Aureus bacteria. This bacteria infects the bones because it travels through the blood from other infected areas. It can also come directly from a wound and travel straight to the bone. A common cause of Osteomyelitis is an open fracture, where not only the bone breaks, but the skin breaks too.

 

Instructions

1.       Perform a physical examination of the patient. Be sure to take a complete medical history and list any medications the patient is already taking. Also ask about any recent problems with the area the patient says is painful.

2.       Take a blood sample to perform a blood test to pinpoint if the patient’s white blood cell count is high, which is often a sign of infection. Look for signs of infection in the body, such as areas that are inflamed, red and warm.

3.       Send the patient for a bone x-ray. A bone x-ray can show if there is an infection in the bone, but might not be as accurate for someone who has just started complaining of pain. If the bone x-ray does not come back positive, but the patient exhibits signs of Osteomyelitis, send them for a bone scan, which gives you a more detailed view of the bone.

4.       Follow up with an MRI, if the bone scan indicates osteomyelitis. MRIs are a valuable test to run. In addition to diagnosing osteomyelitis, the MRI can also help determine how long the infection has been in the bone.

Osteomyelitis may manifest itself in acute, subacute, or chronic forms. Chronic osteomyelitis will result in variable sclerosis and deformity of the affected bone. After the age of 50, the majority of the blood supply to the mandible comes from the overlying periosteum and attached musculature, due to age and atherosclerosis-related involution of the inferior alveolar artery. With an infection of the bone, the subsequent inflammatory response will elevate this overlying periosteum, leading to a loss of the nourishing vasculature, vascular thrombosis, and bone necrosis, resulting occasionally in formation of sequestra. These become areas that are more resistant to systemic antibiotic therapy due to lack of the normal Haversian canals that are blocked by scar tissue, inflammatory exudate, and necrotic bone. At this point, not only systemic antibiotic therapy, but also surgical debridement maybe required to remove the affected bone and prevent disease propagation to adjacent areas. The relative hypoxia seen in infected bone will impair leukocyte bacterial killing, and impede fibroblastic collagen production that is required to support angiogenesis. Thus, it is not surprising that the concomitant use of hyperbaric oxygen therapy maybe beneficial in cases refractory to medical management alone or in patients with a severely compromised immune response. Generally, 20 dives (2.8-3.0 at 100% oxygen for 90 minutes) are administered preoperatively, followed by 20 dives after the debridement of necrotic tissue.

Radiographic imaging may be deceptively unremarkable in acute osteomyelitis, particularly with plain x-rays. Computed tomography (CT) scanning is the standard for evaluating the bone for sequestrum formation. Generally, one sees areas of lytic destruction and overlying periosteal reaction. It is much more common to find cortical plate disruption in the buccal plate than in the lingual plate. Technetium⁹⁹ bone scanning is often positive within 24 hours of an acute infection. Unfortunately, persistent uptake maybe present for 2 years after eradication of osteomyelitis. Gallium^-67 scanning normalizes after successful treatment of mandibular osteomyelitis.

In acute osteomyelitis, or in chronic forms without evidence of formation of sequestra, culture-driven antibiotic therapy is important to allow for disease eradication and decrease the likelihood of formation of antibiotic resistant strains resulting from inadequate subtherapeutic antibiotic therapy. Occasionally, repeated cultures may be required to allow for pathogen isolation, especially in cases of chronic osteomyelitis. Open biopsy of the bone allows for the most accurate culture results. Alpha hemolytic streptococcus, often in conjunction with oral anaerobes, is the most commonly isolated organism noted today. Although acute osteomyelitis is often adequately treated with a culture-driven 6- to 8-week course of antibiotic therapy, chronic osteomyelitis generally requires surgical debridement as well. Antibiotic therapy should be continued for 4 to 6 weeks from the date of last debridement, from resolution of the patient’s symptom complex and/or normalization of the gallium scan (if performed). Refractory osteomyelitis may benefit from the addition of hyperbaric oxygen therapy. Vancomycin or clindamycin are generally effective in the treatment of group A or B streptococci. However, as stated, culture-driven antibiotic therapy is required. With the propagation of multidrug-resistant varieties, treatment with nontraditional antibiotic regimens, such as fluroquinolones, may be required. Attention to optimal management of any underlying systemic immunocompromising conditions, such as diabetes mellitus, steroid usage, and HIV infection is important in all cases.

Clinical features, Radiographic features and treatment of Chronic Osteomyelitis of mandible

Clinical feature:
1. Site: Mandible
2. At early stage:
a. General constitutional symptoms:
• Intermittent fever
• Malaise
• Nausea, vomiting
• Anorexia
b. Pain:
• Deep seated
• Paresthesia of the lower lip

Radiology of Chronic OML• Facial cellulitis

• Trismus
• Swelling
3. Established case of OML:
a. Deep pain
b. Loosening of involved teeth
c. Pain on percussion
d. Sensitivity
e. Purulent discharge of pus
f. Regional lymphadenopathy
g. Trismus
Radiological feature:
1. In early stage, there are no findings
2. The changing begins 4-6 weeks after infection
3. In ate stage of Osteomyelitis, we find sequesterum, involucrum, scattered area, moth eaten appearance in conventional radiograph.
4. For specialized image, we do: CT scan, Radionucleido bone scan, Positron emission tomography.

Treatment:
1. Conventional treatment:
a. Complete bed rest
b. Supportive therapy:
• Nutritional support
• High protein diet
• High calorie and multivitamin diet
c. Rehydration by IV fluid
d. Blood transfusion
e. IV antimicrobial agent
2. Surgical treatment:
a. Incision and drainage   b. Extraction of the offending tooth   c. Debridement of the affected area by irrigating with H2O2 and normal saline  d. Sequestrectomy e. Decortication f. Saucerisation  g. Resection
Post operative care:
1. Continuous use of antibiotics
2. Analgesics
3. Adequate hydration
4. Complete bed rest
5. Follow up

Suppurative mandibular osteomyelitis

Suppurative mandibular osteomyelitis refers to agents that invasion of the mandible, the bone tissue as a whole, including the periosteum, cortical bone, bone marrow and the blood vessels, nerves, inflammation, alveolar abscess, periodontitis, and the third molar crown weeks go far odontogenic infection from which the highest incidence of mandibular osteomyelitis.

Disease Overview

When agents that invaded the jaw, will cause the entire jaw organizations, including the periosteum, cortical bone, bone marrow, and one of the blood vessels, nerve inflammation range of leisure, known as purulent maxillary osteomyelitis. Classification of Diseases 1 performance classification, according to the clinical pathology of suppurative odontogenic mandibular osteomyelitis lesions originating in the maxillary central cancellous bone and bone marrow, known as the Central osteomyelitis, lesions originating in the periosteum and cortical bone of the jaw around the , called the edge of osteomyelitis, according to the nature of the lesions can be divided into acute and chronic phase, the scope of the validation can be divided into localized or diffuse suppurative disease cause of mandibular osteomyelitis of up to alveolar abscess, periodontitis, third molar pericoronitis go far odontogenic infection from, followed by invasive infection due to a comminuted fracture or gunshot wound in open injury to bone by the blood circulation of sepsis or sepsis infection. this situation occurred in the maxilla of the infants and young children, very few of the infection of facial skin or oral mucosa directly affect the jaw. put the treatment of oral cancer or nasopharyngeal carcinoma, osteomyelitis common major pathogens Staphylococcus aureus bacteria, followed by Streptococcus, a few other pyogenic bacteria, stereotypes of mixed infections. pathophysiology of mandibular osteomyelitis compared with the previous mandibular osteomyelitis is more common condition than maxillary bone marrow serious, this is because the upper jaw bone dense fascia and strong muscles, present jaw infection, pus is not left around the puncture drainage poor blood supply of the mandible, infection of vascular thrombosis, it is easy to form a large sequestrum. diagnostic tests 1, details incidence and its treatment, consultation, attention to the relationship with the teeth, identify pathogen teeth. 2, with or without empyema sense of volatility, can be used to puncture confirmed suspicious when pus for bacterial culture and antibiotic sensitivity determination. fistula, exploration probes and other instruments with or without sequestrum sequestrum separation, X-ray, chronic identifying bone destruction, with or without sequestrum formation or infection of the low toxicity to the bone cortical hyperplasia. .

Clinical symptoms

Symptoms characteristic of central mandibular osteomyelitis, acute early inflammation is often restricted to the alveolar bone or bone marrow of the mandibular body, and then invasion of mandible, from the center to the edges of cortical bone and periosteum. 2. stage, patients may feel a severe toothache, pain along the trigeminal nerve distribution area for radiation lesions of the gingival mucosa hyperemia and edema, teeth percussion pain and loose, and may have gingival sulcus overflow pus or the formation of alveolar abscess , this stage of the lesion has not been timely drainage, the infection will continue to spread to the medullary cavity, can cause diffuse osteomyelitis or perforation of cortical bone formation in subperiosteal abscess, then patients with systemic poisoning symptoms became worse, and this when patients with serious manifestations of anemia, dehydration, exhaustion, body temperature increased to 39 ~ 40 ℃, blood test white blood cells increased significantly, local pain and soft tissue swelling in the affected region of the majority of teeth to loosen, some patients would be a serious concurrent disease, such as sepsis, intracranial infections, such as inflammation has not yet been brought under control, the maxilla infection can cause suppurative maxillary sinusitis and infraorbital cheek, or zygomatic, or pterygopalatine concave, temporal, concave and other regional proliferation. mandibular infection can spread to the inferior alveolar nerve caused by the lower lip numbness spread to the jaw weeks, stimulate the open jaw muscles, causing limited mouth opening, can be complicated by the jaw weeks more space infection, so that the face was seen in the swelling, and finally inflammation in the formation of blood clots within the jaw, resulting in jaw nutritional disorders and necrosis, and thus transferred to the chronic phase. 6, transferred from the acute to the chronic phase of about 2 to 3 weeks later, the pain and other systemic symptoms have begun reduced, but the mouth gums can form multiple fistula and pus. sequestrum with healthy bone will be in about a month later, new bone layer, caused by the separation of the sequestrum with healthy bone. this stage without surgical removal of involved regional fistula pus prolonged unhealed, can sometimes have a small piece of sequestrum discharged from the fistula osteomyelitis of the mandible can cause large sequestrum formation of pathogenic pathologic fracture, marginal mandibular osteomyelitis clinical features , limitations with young people, the lesions occurred, with chronic symptoms, does not appear large sequestrum. 2, occurred in young people under the jaw, the lesion is more limited spread of the infection pathway is not the first damage to bone marrow, but in the periosteum inflammation or subperiosteal abscess on the basis of the first involving the cortical bone, but also to the deep development involving the bone marrow, but rarely large sequestrum formation of the infections originated in the mandibular third molar crown Zhou Yan, can cause masseter muscle space infection subperiosteal abscess, resulting in the mandible of the ascending branch and corner Nutrition disorders of the cortical bone necrosis, showing chronic symptoms, local mild chronic inflammatory swelling and pitting edema due to masseter muscle and pterygoid muscle involvement, and limited mouth opening. pericoronitis infection if not controlled, often repeatedly made. 5, the edge of mandibular osteomyelitis after repeated anti-inflammatory medication, could easily lead to pathogen resistance, the formation of low toxicity and infection jaw inflammation.

Signs and symptoms

In particular, according to the clinical pathology of suppurative odontogenic mandibular osteomyelitis lesionsoriginating in the maxillary centralBone trabecular and bone marrow, known as the Central osteomyelitis lesions originating in the periosteum and cortical bone of the jaw around, known as the edge of osteomyelitis according to the nature of the lesions can be divided into acute and chronic phase, according to The scope of the validation can be divided into localized or diffuse. central mandibular osteomyelitis: the maxilla than the mandible more common in teeth with severe pain, persistent, and radiating pain along the trigeminal nerve distribution. teeth and adjacent teeth loose, percussion pain, vestibular groove fullness, cheek swelling. mandibular alveolar abscess, the pus is not easy worn develop into acute diffuse osteomyelitis and lack of drainage, the patients with systemic symptoms get worse, fever, chills, leukocyte, dehydration and other toxic manifestations. mandibular osteomyelitis refers to agents that invaded the jaw, causing the entire bone tissue, including periosteum, cortical bone, bone marrow and the blood vessels, nerve inflammation, Chinese medicine called ‘bone slot wind ‘or’ wear gills were sharply acute onset of high fever, increased white blood cells, can shift to the left. body poisoning, and with general malaise, headache, loss of appetite and other symptoms can occur in patients toothache, and the pain along the trigeminal nerve distribution area of ​​radiation, and can quickly spread to the adjacent teeth. the short term, there may be multiple tooth mobility, periodontal pocket pus, inferior alveolar nerve by inflammatory damage to the lower lip numbness due to the spread of inflammation to the surrounding maxillofacial swelling which can occur, such as infection spread to the masticatory muscles can be trismus such as infection control in a timely and quickly to the infraorbital, inferior temporal, the pterygopalatine concave and by the mandibular foramen caused the wing jaw space infection. systemic complications such as sepsis, and intracranial infection may also occur.

Disease etiology

Suppurative osteomyelitis of jaw up to the alveolar abscess, periodontitis, the third molar pericoronitis go far odontogenic infection from, followed by open injury due to comminuted or anger injury caused by bone invasive infection, sepsis or infections, sepsis and blood circulation more than occurred in the maxilla of infants and young children, very few of the infection of facial skin or oral mucosa directly affect the jaw. major pathogens Staphylococcus aureus, followed by Streptococcus few other pyogenic bacteria stereotypes mixed infection.

Pathophysiological

Mandibular osteomyelitis compared with maxillary osteomyelitis more common condition than the maxilla bone marrow serious, this is because the upper jaw bone is dense, and some surrounding fascia and strong muscles, present jaw infection, pus left After puncture drainage poor blood supply of the mandible, infection of vascular thrombosis, easy to form a large sequestrum.

Diagnostic tests

A detailed consultation incidence after treatment, and attention teeth identify pathogen teeth.

2, with or without empyema sense of volatility suspicious can be used for puncture confirmed. 3, pus for bacterial culture and antibiotic sensitivity determination, with or without fistula, probes and other instruments to probe whether the sequestrum sequestrum separation. 5, X-ray, the chronic phase to identify bone destruction, with or without sequestrum formation or infection of the low toxicity of the bone cortex hyperplasia type.

Disease Prevention

No special

Safety Tips

 1, the disease mostly occurs in the infant’s maxillary marginal mandibular osteomyelitis: more common in young people, the acute phase is difficult to find common chronic phase 2, the timely treatment of the crown Zhou Yan, the periapical Yandeng odontogenic infection to prevent occurrence of mandibular osteomyelitis. has formed should be a thorough treatment to avoid to chronic osteomyelitis, in the acute phase.

 

Treatment programs

 Acute systemic antibiotics, local incision and drainage or removal of loose teeth, diffuse patient performance Decline thirsty, systemic poisoning, severe anemia, in addition to general supportive therapy, but also a small amount of multiple transfusions and enhance systemic resistance to the chronic phase sequestrum curettage and extraction of teeth lesions mainly purulent maxillary bone marrow after a course of inflammation, and generally can be divided into two phases of acute and chronic phase. to The sequestrum began to take shape used to be collectively referred to as the acute phase by the onset, generally about 3 to 4 weeks if the infection fails to be completely controlled in the acute phase, into the chronic phase. must be used in sufficient quantities and effective antimicrobial treatment. use drugs in order to control the infection in the acute phase, use of antibiotics against Staphylococcus aureus and mixed infections, the other based on bacterial culture and susceptibility to choose effective antibiotics. In the initial stages of infection, but also with the physical therapy. When the infection into the suppuration of Early incision and drainage. wait for his condition slightly eased, the mouth opening slightly improved, should try to extraction, so that the pus from the socket to get the drainage, to prevent the spread of infection in the bone of acute suppurative osteomyelitis oncoming acute, severe illness, can cause blood and brain complications, and therefore close observation, as early as the appropriate emergency treatment of acute systemic application of antibiotics, local incision and drainage removal of loose teeth mainly diffuse patient performance decline thirsty, systemic poisoning, severe anemia, in addition to general supportive therapy, but also a small amount of multiple transfusions, enhanced systemic resistance to the chronic phase to sequester scrape and lesions in tooth extraction based. 1, the disease occurred in the maxilla of infants and young children. marginal mandibular osteomyelitis: more common in young people, the acute phase is difficult to find common chronic phase. and timely treatment of pericoronitis, periapical go far odontogenic infection, on the prevention of mandibular osteomyelitis. such as formation of osteomyelitis in the acute phase should be a thorough treatment so as not to become chronic. acute phase of infection control, enhance the body resistance-based, anti- infection drugs should be selected according to the sensitivity of pathogenic bacteria. mandibular osteomyelitis more mixed bacterial infection, it is appropriate in order to use broad-spectrum antibiotics. In addition, as has been clear for odontogenic infection, early removal of the lesions teeth in order to facilitate drainage, to avoid more extensive bone destruction. case of subperiosteal abscess or infection jaw week gap, it is timely incision in chronic phase, the lesion has been limited or has been sequestrum formation, while the surgical treatment of the main supplemented by drug treatment. marginal mandibular osteomyelitis are generally large sequestrum formation, mostly for the proliferation of subperiosteal cortical bone, the texture is more loose, and should be completely clear, pus foci of cortical bone surface where infection and the granulation organizers should be scraping, postoperative use of antibiotics to control infection in 7 to 14 days to avoid relapse.

Clinical manifestations

Clinical presentation of osteonecrosis of the jaw. (A) Typical lesion of osteonecrosis of the jaw showing exposed infected bone involving the mylohyoid ridge. (B) Osteonecrotic bone below a dental implant. (C) Spontaneous exfoliated teeth with underlying exposed dead bone. (D) Operative picture showing well-demarcated dead bone involving the whole alveolus. (From Badros A, Weikel D, Salama A, et al. Osteonecrosis of the jaw in multiple myelomoa patients: clinical features and risk factors. J Clin Oncol 2006;24:948; with permission. Copyright © 2006 by American Society of Clinical Oncology.)

Suppurative mandibular osteomyelitis from the clinical course of disease, pathogens, routes of infection and lesions involving the siteCan be manifested as acute and chronic stages, and often divided into two types of central and edge (a central mandibular osteomyelitis is usually odontogenic inflammation spread to the bone marrow, spread to the bone from the jaw center around cortex and periosteum in the bone marrow of early acute inflammation is often restricted to the alveolar bone or the mandibular body, patients feel severe toothache, pain along the trigeminal nerve distribution of radiation lesions of the gingival mucosa hyperemia and edema, teeth that is, obvious pain and loose, and can gingival sulcus septic overflow or the formation of alveolar abscess. acute phase has not been timely drainage, infections continue to spread to the medullary cavity can cause disseminated osteomyelitis or perforation of cortical bone formation in subperiosteal abscess. exacerbate symptoms of systemic poisoning at this time, the body temperature to 39 ~ 40 ℃, blood test white blood cells increased significantly, local pain and soft tissue swelling the affected regions the majority of loose teeth. If the inflammation is not brought under control, the maxillary infection can cause purulent maxillary sinusitis and infraorbital, buccal, zygomatic or pterygopalatine concave, temporal concave and other areas to spread. mandibular infection can spread to the inferior alveolar nerve caused by the lower lip numbness spread to the jaw week to stimulate the open jaw muscles, causing limitation of mouth opening can be complicated by the infection of the jaw week more than the gap, so that the face was seen in the swelling, and finally inflammation in the formation of blood clots within the jaw, resulting iutritional disorders of the jaw and necrosis, and thus transferred to the chronic phase. turn by the acute phase into the chronic phase of about two to three weeks later, pain and other systemic symptoms began to ease, but the mouth gums can form more than one fistula and pus out about a month later, the sequestrum with healthy bone between the new bone layer, causing the separation of the sequestrum with healthy bone without surgical removal of involved regional fistula pus prolonged unhealed, can sometimes have a small piece of sequestrum discharged from the fistula. osteomyelitis of the mandible can cause large piece of dead bone formation, can be pathogenic pathological fractures appear bite (occlusal disorders. Suppurative mandibular osteomyelitis (two marginal mandibular osteomyelitis spread of the infection pathway is not the first damage to bone marrow, but the basis of periostitis or subperiosteal abscess the first involving the cortical bone occurred in adolescents mandible, more limited lesions, infections originated in the mandibular third molar pericoronitis inflammation, caused by the masseter muscle space infection and subperiosteal abscess, resulting in lower jaw of the ascending branch and the corner of cortical bone nutritional barriers necrosis. clinical manifestations of chronic symptoms, the symptoms of the acute phase of infection and jaw week gap coexist but often overlooked in local mild chronic inflammatory swelling and pitting edema due to the chewing muscles and wing muscle involvement and limited mouth opening. lesions confined to the cortical bone, or to the deep development involving the bone marrow, but rarely large sequestrum formation. pericoronitis infections if not controlled, often repeatedly made by anti-inflammatory drugs after treatment, could easily lead to pathogen resistance, the formation of low toxicity and infection, no obvious purulent and sequestrum formation process and significant cortical hyperostosis, sclerosis and periosteal thickening of cortical bone lysis little part the formation of small abscess and granulation tissue. cortical hyperplasia of the mandibular ascending branch of the Ministry of mandibular angle can cause facial asymmetry, X-ray showed obvious subperiosteal hyperostosis.