Bone deformity after injury and infection

Need to know

• Why does bone deformity occur? icon plus

  Osteomyelitis is an infection of the bones which can cause permanent damage in children. The infection, which can be caused by trauma to a long bone such as the femur, can cause damage to individual bones and spread to the nearby joints. Bones are weakened as a result and affected joints and limbs may become misshapen. If the bone is very damaged, it may need to be amputated.
  
  Unhealed fractures may also cause bone deformity in the form of unstable 'false joints' or dents in the bone. These areas cause persistent pain and poor bloody supply.

• How is a bone infection diagnosed? icon plus

  Your consultant will discuss your child's symptoms with you and help to make a diagnosis. The most reliable way to diagnose bone infection is to take a fluid sample and biopsy from the infected bone. This will confirm the infection and enable your consultant to treat the problem.
  
  An unhealed fracture is best diagnosed through X-ray and MRI scans, which display surrounding tissue and soft bones. A sequence of X-rays may be compared over time to confirm that the fracture isn't healing.

• Potential treatment options icon plus

  Deformities caused by osteomyelitis may need to be treated with surgery. First, pockets of bacteria within the bone are drained, and damaged bone is removed by a process called debridement. This can lead to bone and soft tissue loss, so the bone is then stabilised with bone graft or cement.
  
  Deformities caused by unhealed fractures are treated with bone grafts or straightened with metal implants such as cages, rods and screws (internal or external fixation). These are removed when the fracture has healed.