What does osteomyelitis mean?
Osteomyelitis is a potentially serious infection and inflammation of bone and bone marrow. The term combines elements meaning “bone,” “marrow,” and “inflammation,” and it is used in medicine to describe conditions in which microorganisms reach bone tissue. Infection may spread through the bloodstream, often from another part of the body, or enter bone directly through trauma, surgery, or an infected wound. Symptoms can include severe bone pain, fever, tenderness, and reduced mobility, although presentation varies. Prompt diagnosis and treatment may involve antibiotics, surgery, and removal of infected tissue. Osteomyelitis is distinct from arthritis, which chiefly affects joints, and it requires specialist medical attention because it can lead to chronic infection, tissue damage, and impaired bone function.
nounOsteomyelitis is an inflammation of bone and bone marrow, usually caused by an infection. It is a serious condition that can result from bacteria spreading through the bloodstream or from direct contamination of a bone.
- An inflammation of bone and bone marrow, usually caused by infection.
"The patient was treated for osteomyelitis after the infection spread from a wound to the femur."
"Antibiotics and surgery are sometimes needed to treat osteomyelitis."
"The medical team diagnosed the child's fever and limb pain as osteomyelitis."
In standard medical usage, the noun is generally treated as having the same form in the plural.
"Cases of osteomyelitis require close monitoring and long-term treatment."
Osteomyelitis is a bone infection that can turn a simple fracture or wound into a long and difficult medical struggle.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does osteomyelitis come from?
The word was formed in the 19th century from Greek-derived elements: osteo- meaning “bone,” myelo- meaning “marrow,” and -itis meaning “inflammation.” The components continue to appear in related medical terms such as osteocyte, osteoblast, myelin, and myeloid. Its development reflects the medical practice of naming inflammatory diseases by combining anatomical terms with the suffix -itis.
Related word forms
How osteomyelitis is actually used
This is a formal medical term. It is not used for general inflammation of bones that is not caused by infection, and it is normally diagnosed and treated by healthcare professionals.
Easily confused with osteomyelitis
Osteomyelitis is an infection and inflammation of bone and bone marrow, whereas arthritis primarily involves inflammation of one or more joints.