CCBI’s approach to patients with musculoskeletal infections utilizes a multidisciplinary team strategy in line with our institution’s commitment to use the power of academic medicine, total-patient care, and cutting-edge technology to advance the science of discovery and transform the delivery of care. CCBI is dedicated to conducting groundbreaking research and quality improvement projects that enhance the diagnosis and management of patients suffering from all forms of bone and joint infections.

This a list of the most common diagnosis with their definitions that are co-managed by the CCBI:

Osteomyelitis

Osteomyelitis is an infection of the bone. Usually presents with pain. Infectious organisms reach the bone if they are in the blood or nearby infected tissue or after serious injury that exposes the bone to the environment.

Symptoms

• Pain
• Redness
• Swelling

In some cases, the patient will not experience any symptoms

Treatment

• Usually involves surgery to remove the infected bone
• Antimicrobials for 4 to 6 weeks

Septic Arthritis

Septic arthritis is an infection in the joint. Usually presents with painful, swollen and warmth joint. Infectious organisms reach the joint from the blood, nearby infected tissue or direct injury to the joint. It can cause joint damage that if not treated can be permanent.

Symptoms

• Warmth
• Redness
• Joint Pain
• Joint Swelling

Treatment

• Usually involves surgery to clean the infected joint
• Antimicrobials for 3 to 4 weeks

Prosthetic Joint Infection (PJI)

Prosthetic Joint Infection is an infection in the artificial joint. They can present early after surgery or several months and even years after surgery. Infection that present early after surgery usually have pain, redness, swelling and sometimes drainage from surgical wound. Infections that occur later the main symptom is usually pain and the diagnosis is more difficult.

Symptoms

Artificial joint with:

• Pain
• Redness
• Swelling
• Warmth

If it has been months to years since surgery, pain is the main symptom.

Treatment

• Usually involves surgery to clean, exchange, or remove the infected joint
• Antimicrobials for 4 to 24 weeks depending on the type of surgery
• Long term antimicrobial use may be necessary

Fracture Related Infection (FRI)

Fracture Related Infection is a complication after bone fracture. Diagnosis can be challenging differentiating infection from non-infection complications after bone fracture.

Symptoms

• Pain
• Redness
• Swelling
• Warmth

Some times communication of fracture site with skin, pus in the wound can be observed.

Treatment

• Usually involves surgery to clean, exchange, or remove infected bone and/or hardware
• Antimicrobials for 6 to 12 weeks depending on type of surgery
• Use of long term antibiotics is sometimes necessary

Chronic Osteomyelitis

Chronic osteomyelitis is a progressive infection of the bone that results in bone destruction and can lead to recurrent episodes of infection with formation of tracts that communicate with the skin.

Symptoms

• Pain
• Redness
• Swelling
• Warmth

Some times communication of fracture site with skin, pus in the wound can be observed.

Treatment

• Usually involves surgery to remove infected bone
• Antimicrobials for 6 to 8 weeks

Fracture Nonunion

Fracture nonunion occurs when a fractured bone fails to heal. Nonunion may or may not be related to infection.