Osteomyelitis is infection and inflammation of the medullary cavity, cortex and periosteum of bone. It is uncommon in cats, but it matters because a swelling or draining tract over a bone can be bone infection, a tumor, or both, and the treatment is long and often surgical.
Key facts
Osteomyelitis at a glance- Species and system: cats; musculoskeletal.
- Cause: mostly bacteria (Staphylococcus spp make up about 50% of cases in cats and dogs, MSD); fungi in endemic areas. Routes are hematogenous spread, direct trauma and surgery.
- Classic presentation: lameness, pain and swelling over a bone, sometimes fever or a draining tract.
- Key test: radiographs, then deep sampling (fine-needle aspirate or biopsy) for culture and cytology.
- Treatment: culture-guided antibiotics plus debridement, sequestrum and implant removal when present.
- Zoonotic or reportable: no, but some fungal causes are of public health concern.
What's inside
12 sections in the full guide- Key facts
- How the NAVLE tests this
- Cause and pathophysiology
- Putting it together: a case approach
- Clinical signs
- Diagnosis
- Differential diagnoses
- Treatment and management
- Prognosis
- Quick review
- Test yourself
- References
The full guide also has 5 tables, 1 figure, 3 self-test questions and 5 references, available to NAVLE members.
Read the full study guide
The full guide is part of every NAVLE plan, with diagnosis and treatment tables, figures, a quick review and self-test questions. Start a free trial to try the question bank, or log in if you are already a member.