Among many people, the term periostitis is almost formidable. However, not everyone can say what the periosteum is and what function it performs in the body, but probably everyone thinks that periostitis is a dangerous condition for human health. So, let’s look at the topic and answer the question – the periosteum: what is it and why its inflammatory changes are so painfully felt.
What is a periosteum?
Skeletal it is a membrane made of connective tissue. It tightly surrounds the bone tissue and is permanently attached to it. Alone skeletal It consists of two layers: inner and outer, and through them the bone tissue is vascularized. The tasks it performs are extremely important skeletal. Its functions can be divided into three types. Above all skeletal protects the proper bone against any mechanical damage, thanks to which the bone tissue is able to withstand a lot. Another task facing periosteum, is to properly nourish the bone tissue. Blood vessels running in ossify penetrate the proper bone through the so-called Volkman channels and provide nutrients. An extremely important function is also bone regeneration and renewal. In case of fractures, some cells ossify they change into the so-called bone-forming cells and thanks to this, the processes of fusion of separated bone fragments are triggered.
Periostitis – causes
When periostitis occurs, it is known that the disease process affects the membrane surrounding the bones. This condition occurs most often for one of two reasons. Periostitis it may be caused by an injury or the penetration of microbes into its structures from other nearby inflammatory sites. A very good example is periostitis of the toothand its cause may be the necrotic process of the tooth pulp, errors in the root canal treatment, advanced caries or a damaged root.
Serious and long-lasting periostitis it can also be the result of the harmful effects of ionizing radiation or severe phosphorus poisoning.
Yet another figure is chronic periostitis of long boneswhich is part of the symptom complex of hypertrophic osteoarthritis. This disease is most often the result of lesions in the chest area.
Periostitis – symptoms
Anything inflammation of the bones it is always accompanied by severe bone pain, which basically comes on suddenly and increases rapidly in intensity. Most often it is accompanied by swelling, headaches and malaise. If periostitis develops around the tooth, there is also an acute toothache. Periostitis is diagnosed on the basis of X-rays.
Periostitis – treatment
The treatment consists in administering the patient antibiotics, which will eliminate the inflammation, but then the cause of the occurrence should be eliminated. periostitis. Otherwise, the disease process will return very quickly and the antibiotic therapy will have to be repeated.