Osteomyelitis in Children

Medically reviewed by Drugs.com. Last updated on May 4, 2025.

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Osteomyelitis is a severe bone infection. It can develop in any bone, but often involves the long bones, such as the arm and leg bones, or the bones of the spine. Osteomyelitis may be caused by bacteria or a fungus.

WHILE YOU ARE HERE:

Informed consent

is a legal document that explains the tests, treatments, or procedures that your child may need. Informed consent means you understand what will be done and can make decisions about what you want. You give your permission when you sign the consent form. You can have someone sign this form for you if you are not able to sign it. You have the right to understand your child's medical care in words you know. Before you sign the consent form, understand the risks and benefits of what will be done to your child. Make sure all of your questions are answered.

An IV

is a small tube placed in your child's vein that is used to give medicine or liquids.

Medicines:

• Pain medicine may be given.
• Acetaminophen decreases pain and fever.
• Antibiotics are given to treat a bacterial infection.
• Antifungals are given to treat a fungal infection.

Tests:

• Blood tests will show kidney function and if the infection is improving.
• X-ray, CT, or MRI takes pictures of your child's bone and tissue to look for infection and damage. Your child may be given contrast liquid to help the bone and tissue show up better. Tell the healthcare provider if your child has ever had an allergic reaction to contrast liquid. Do not let your child enter the MRI room with anything metal. Metal can cause serious injury. Tell the healthcare provider if your child has any metal in or on his or her body.
• A bone scan shows diseased or damaged bones. A radioactive liquid, called a tracer, is given through an IV. The tracer collects in your child's bones so problems show up better in pictures.
• A bone biopsy is used to take a sample of your child's bone to learn what is causing the infection. It can also help healthcare providers learn how to best treat the infection.

Treatment:

• Bed rest and immobilization with a splint may be needed to help your child's bone heal.
• Debridement is a procedure to remove part or all of the infected bone and some tissues around it. This may help keep the infection from spreading to other bones and parts of your child's body.
• Revascularization is a procedure to place healthy muscle and skin in areas where infection was removed. A large cavity (hole) may remain when a large or deep infection is cleaned and removed. The muscle and skin flaps have good blood flow and help fill the cavity.
• Skin or bone grafting is a procedure to remove a thin piece of healthy skin or bone from one part of the body. The healthy piece of skin or bone is then put onto the injured part of the body. A skin graft can help close the wound or lessen the amount of scarring.
• Stabilization is a procedure to insert metal pins, screws, or plates to hold weak bones together. This may help correct broken bones that did not join together correctly and caused an infection.
• Amputation is surgery to remove all or part of a limb. Amputation may be done if the bone infection is severe. This may help keep the infection from spreading to other bones.

Treatment options

The following list of medications are related to or used in the treatment of this condition.

• cephalexin
• clindamycin
• Keflex
• Zosyn
• Cipro

View more treatment options

RISKS:

Your child's infection may return. He or she may develop an abscess (pus pocket). The infection may spread to blood, bones, or organs. Your child's bones may be weakened and fracture or not heal properly. If your child has a prosthetic implant, it may loosen. Severe infection can cause bone death. This can lead to an amputation or disability. If your child has an infection in a vertebrae (bones of the spine), swelling may put pressure on your child's spinal cord. This may cause paralysis of his or her legs or arms. Your child may need surgery to remove part of the infected bone.

CARE AGREEMENT:

You have the right to help plan your child's care. Learn about your child's health condition and how it may be treated. Discuss treatment options with your child's healthcare providers to decide what care you want for your child.

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The above information is an educational aid only. It is not intended as medical advice for individual conditions or treatments. Talk to your doctor, nurse or pharmacist before following any medical regimen to see if it is safe and effective for you.

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