Physical examination
To confirm a diagnosis of suspected osteomyelitis, your GP will first carry out a physical examination of your affected body part to check for signs of redness, swelling and tenderness.
They will want to know about your recent medical history, such as whether you have recently had an injury, surgery or a previous infection.
Blood test
Your GP may refer you for a blood test. This cannot confirm osteomyelitis, but it can indicate whether you have a high number of white blood cells in your blood, which may suggest that you have an infection. Also, if the osteomyelitis was caused by bacteria spreading in your blood, a blood test may be useful for detecting the bacteria.
Imaging tests
If osteomyelitis is suspected, it is likely that you will be referred for further imaging testing. There are several imaging tests that may be able to detect bone damage caused by osteomyelitis. They include:
- X-rays, in which low levels of radiation are used to create an image of the affected bone
- magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan, which is where a strong magnetic field and radio waves are used to build up a picture of the inside of the affected bone
- computerised tomography (CT) scan, which is where a series of X-rays of your affected bone are taken and a computer is used to assemble them into a more detailed three-dimensional image
- ultrasound scan, which is where high-frequency sound waves are used to create an image of the affected bone to highlight any abnormalities
Biopsy
If earlier testing suggests that you have osteomyelitis, it is usually necessary to remove a small sample of bone for further testing. This is known as a biopsy.
A biopsy is usually necessary to confirm a diagnosis of osteomyelitis and it can help to establish the exact type of bacteria or fungus that is causing your infection. This can be very useful when deciding on the most effective treatment.
A biopsy is usually combined with surgery in chronic cases.
