Osteomyelitis of the jaw is an infectious disease of the bone. The lower jaw is affected more often than the upper, twice. Depending on the cause of osteomyelitis, it happens: odontogenic, traumatic, hematogenous.
Traumatic osteomyelitis of the jaw occurs when an infection enters the bone tissue during fractures or gunshot wounds.
Hematogenous osteomyelitis of the jaw develops when the infection with blood is transferred from the lesion to the bone. This can happen with chronic tonsillitis, and such acute conditions as scarlet fever, diphtheria. This type of disease is a rather rare occurrence. Hematogenous osteomyelitis, the symptoms of which are diverse, can be difficult to diagnose in the initial stage.
The most common odontogenic species, accounting for half of all jaw osteomyelitis. The disease begins to develop when microbes from a diseased tooth enter the bone tissue and medulla. The causative agent may be staphylococcus, streptococcus, anaerobic bacteria. Usually this occurs with exacerbation of periodontitis, cyst, granuloma, complicated caries. There are acute, subacute and chronic forms of odontogenic osteomyelitis.
The acute form is characterized by weakness, malaise, headaches. There is an increase in temperature and poor sleep. The patient's condition can be mild, moderate and severe. In the beginning, a person complains of tooth pain. There is edema, poor mobility of the lower jaw, redness and soreness of the mucous membrane around the tooth, acute pain when tapped. Lymph nodes on the neck are enlarged and painful when palpating. Perhaps the development of an abscess. The patient looks lethargic, the skin has a grayish tint, blood pressure may be reduced or increased, yellowness of the eye sclera is possible. At the onset of the disease, diagnosis is difficult due to the predominance of general symptoms.
Subacute osteomyelitis of the jaw develops after pus exits from the inflamed part of the bone, when some relief comes for the patient. At this stage, dead areas of bone tissue and fistula are formed. The inflammation becomes dull, but does not disappear. Bone tissue continues to collapse.
Chronic osteomyelitis of the lower jaw occurs within a few months. At the same time, periods of exacerbation, during which new fistulas and necrotic tissue sites are formed - sequesters, are replaced by periods of apparent recovery. Self-recovery can rarely happen.
To diagnose osteomyelitis, an X-ray examination is performed, blood is taken for analysis, and they are guided by the examination data and anamnesis.
Treatment of osteomyelitis is to remove the tooth, from which inflammation began. Periosteum incisions are made to ensure the release of inflammatory fluid. Prescribe antibiotics inside and local washing of the bone tissue with antiseptic solutions. In severe cases, a surgical operation is performed to remove dead areas of bone tissue and plastic jaw.
Failure to treat osteomyelitis can result in serious complications, such as an abscess, phlegmon, a pathological fracture in the jaw area, limited mobility of the lower jaw, and blood poisoning.
To avoid osteomyelitis of the lower jaw, you need to constantly monitor the oral cavity, regularly visit the dentist for rehabilitation. All diseased teeth should be treated promptly and no untreated carious cavities should be left. It is necessary to engage in oral hygiene and try to avoid injuries to the jaw and face. Prevention of osteomyelitis also consists in the timely treatment of various infections, especially the upper respiratory tract.