General Medical Information

Osteomyelitis

Frank E. Lucente
Samir Shah
Roger Kula

Osteomyelitis occurs through extension of infection from the paranasal and mastoid sinuses. This usually involves the temporal, frontal, and parietal bones. Facial nerve palsy and vertigo can be caused by osteomyelitis of the temporal bone. If it erupts into the epidural space, the infection causes an epidural abscess. The patient has fever, malaise, tenderness, and pain. Nuchal rigidity is rare.