OSTEOMYELITIS

Surgical Management

 Drain the infected area. Opening up the area around infected bone
allows surgeon to drain any pus or fluid that has accumulated in
response to the infection.

 Remove diseased bone and tissue. In a procedure called

debridement, the surgeon removes as much of the diseased bone as
possible, taking a small margin of healthy bone to ensure that all the
infected areas have been removed. Surrounding tissue that shows
signs of infection also may be removed.

 Restore blood flow to the bone. The surgeon may fill any empty
space left by the debridement procedure with a piece of bone or other
tissue, such as skin or muscle, from another part of the body. The graft
helps body repair damaged blood vessels and form new bone.

 Amputate the limb. As a last resort, surgeons may amputate the

affected limb to stop the infection from spreading further.

RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS

Surgical Management
If medications fail to prevent or slow joint damage, the patient and the
doctor may consider surgery to repair damaged joints. Surgery may help
restore your ability to use your joint. It can also reduce pain and correct
deformities.

Total joint replacement (arthroplasty). During joint replacement

surgery, the surgeon removes the damaged parts of the joint and inserts a
prosthesis made of metal and plastic.

Tendon repair. Inflammation and joint damage may cause tendons around
the joint to loosen or rupture. The surgeon may be able to repair the tendons
around the joint.

Removal of the joint lining (synovectomy). If the lining around the joint
(synovium) is inflamed and causing pain, the surgeon may recommend
removing the lining of the joint.

Joint fusion (arthrodesis). Surgically fusing a joint may be recommended

to stabilize or realign a joint and for pain relief when a joint replacement isn't
an option.