Osteomyelitis in the Condyle of the Jaw and its Relationship with Anemia

Claudia Letelier F.; Günther Preisler E.; Paulo García C. & Fernando Salinas R.

Summary

Osteomyelitis is defined as a progressive inflammation of the bone, which occurs most frequently in the long bones of the body. Its etiology is related to local and / or systemic factors that include anemia. Osteomyelitis resulting from sickle cell anemia results in the blood being more viscous producing a low blood flow leading to ischemic attack and bone necrosis. Patient presented with increased volume in the left preauricular region following one month of evolution, soft, fluctuating, ill-defined limits, 5x4 cm in diameter, afebrile, without discoloration. He had trismus, tenderness and had been admitted to the emergency room five months earlier, for osteomyelitis with subgaleal abscess. Patient`s background included anemia and treatment for chronic alcoholism. The patient was hospitalized with intravenous treatment of cloxacilline, resulting in increased preauricular volume with defined limits. Results following a biopsy showed condyle osteomyelitis. Osteomyelitis presented in the condyle may be the recurrence of osteomyelitis or may have been caused by the anemia. However, frontoparietal osteomyelitis has no apparent cause and could be associated with anemia.

KEY WORDS: osteomyelitis, mandibular condyle, anemia.

How to cite this article

LETELIER, F. C.; PREISLER, E. G.; GARCÍA, C. P. & SALINAS, R. F. Osteomyelitis in the condyle of the jaw and the relationship with anemia. Int. J. Odontostomat., 10(1):49-53, 2016.