Diagnosing osteomyelitis

Osteomyelitis is diagnosed based on a physical examination and tests including blood tests, imaging tests and a biopsy.

Visit your GP if you are experiencing  symptoms of osteomyelitis , such as a high temperature and bone pain.

Physical examination

Your GP will first carry out a physical examination of the affected body part to check for redness, swelling and tenderness.

They will want to know whether you have recently had an injury, surgery or a previous infection.

If osteomyelitis is suspected, they may refer you to an orthopaedic surgeon (a specialist in bones and joints).

Blood test

You may be referred for a Blood tests . This cannot confirm osteomyelitis, but can indicate whether you have a high number of white blood cells in your blood, which is a sign of an infection.

Also, if the osteomyelitis was caused by bacteria spreading in your blood, a blood test may be useful for detecting the bacteria.

Imaging tests

There are several imaging tests used to detect bone damage caused by osteomyelitis. They include:

• X-rays , where low levels of radiation are used to create an image of the affected bone this test is not usually useful for diagnosis if the condition is in the early stages.
• magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan , where a strong magnetic field and radio waves are used to build up a picture of the inside of the affected bone
• computerised tomography (CT) scan , where a series of X-rays of your affected bone are taken and a computer is used to assemble them into a more detailed three-dimensional image
• ultrasound scan , where high-frequency sound waves are used to create an image of the affected bone to highlight any abnormalities

Biopsy

If tests suggest osteomyelitis, it is usually necessary to remove a small sample of bone for further testing. This is known as a biopsy .

A biopsy is usually necessary to confirm osteomyelitis and can help establish the type of bacteria or fungus causing your infection. This is useful when deciding on the most effective treatment.

A biopsy is usually combined with surgery in chronic cases.

If you have a wound producing pus, a sample may also be taken for testing.