Question
A middle school student is suspected of having osteomylitis. Although medication has been administered and X-rays have been taken, the symptoms have not shown significant improvement. In this case, what treatment methods for osteomylitis are available for selection?
Answer
The treatment methods for osteomylitis are diverse, mainly categorized into the following three types:
- Systemic Therapy: Treats the root cause of the disease. If caused by systemic infections or focal infections, sulfonamides or antibiotics should be administered, and hormones may be used when necessary. It is essential to thoroughly remove any existing primary foci.
- Regional Therapy: In the early stages of inflammation, cold compresses can be applied; if abscesses have formed, incision and drainage is required; for tuberculous osteomylitis, after incision, necrotic bone and purulent tissue should be scraped out and penicillin infused.
- Traditional Chinese Medicine Therapy: Treats according to the principles of syndrome differentiation. If there is an excess of heat-toxin, heat-clearing and detoxification should be employed; if confirmed as deficiency-cold, it is advisable to tonify deficiency and dispel cold; for those with Yin deficiency and internal heat, it is recommended to nourish Yin and clear heat.