What You Should Know About Periostitis

The two types of periostitis are chronic and acute.

Infection of the bone can lead to acute periostitis, which is a painful condition. This may lead to necrosis, which is death of the living tissue surrounding the bone.

Chronic periostitis can result from trauma and stress to the bones. Shin splints from running are an example.

Symptoms are described as acute or chronic.

Acute periostitis symptoms

The symptoms of acute periostitis can include:

• intense pain
• difficulty bearing weight on the affected limb
• pus formation
• fever
• chills
• swelling of the tissue surrounding the bone

Chronic periostitis symptoms

Chronic periostitis, or even temporary bouts of shin splints and similar injuries, also causes swelling and inflammation.

The bones affected by noninfectious periostitis may also ache and be tender to the touch. People who have chronic periostitis may not appear as ill as those who have acute periostitis.

While periostitis often affects the bones in your legs, it can also affect the long bones in your arms and the spine.

The causes of periostitis vary depending on whether the condition is acute or chronic.

Causes of acute periostitis

Acute periostitis can develop from a variety of infections in other parts of your body.

For example, a urinary tract infection (UTI) or a sexually transmitted infection (STI), such as syphilis, could lead to periostitis. The same is true for a cut that doesn’t heal and gets deeper, eventually reaching the bone.

People who have chronic ulcers, such as those with diabetes, or who are immobile and develop pressure sores, are more likely to develop periostitis. This is especially the case if the ulceration doesn’t heal or is allowed to continue to develop.

Certain autoimmune diseases can lead to acute periostitis. Leukemia and various cancers and blood disorders are all potential conditions that can lead to serious bone infections.

Proliferative periostitis, or osteomyelitis, is one type of bone infection. Staphylococcus and other similar bacteria are usually the cause.

Staphylococcus bacteria are present in healthy people. They’re considered a part of the normal bacteria that reside on the skin and the nose.

This type of bacteria may also cause infections of the skin, especially in people who have weakened immune systems or chronic underlying illnesses. If you don’t get treatment for an infection due to Staphylococcus or related bacteria, you may develop osteomyelitis.

Causes of chronic periostitis

Repeated stress on your bones can lead to chronic periostitis.

Athletes and people who frequently jump, turn, or lift weights are at an increased risk of developing shin splints. The repetitive stress that these activities places on your bones can lead to the inflammatory changes that are responsible for periostitis.

Risk factors are specific to the type of periostitis you’re diagnosed with.

Risk factors for acute periostitis

Having any of the following increases your risk for acute periostitis:

• systemic infection, especially bloodstream infections
• joint replacement surgery or another type of orthopedic surgery
• poor circulation, which can be due to atherosclerosis, diabetes, or pressure sores or ulcers
• an open fracture, which is a fracture of the bone that pierces the skin and exposes the bone to the germs of the skin and surrounding environment

Risk factors for chronic periostitis

Exercise

Runners, dancers, soldiers, and anyone else who’s extremely active physically are at increased risk for chronic periostitis. Anyone who dramatically increases their exercise regimen is at risk of developing periostitis.

Osgood-Schlatter disease

Certain other noninfectious forms of periostitis, such as Osgood-Schlatter disease, are more common in growing children.

Osgood-Schlatter is an inflammation of the knee, where the tendon from the knee attaches to the tibia. This condition results in chronic pain and swelling of the proximal shin, or the area just below the kneecap, or patella.

Osgood-Schlatter disease is most common in adolescent boys, especially those who are physically active and perform higher-risk activities, such as jumping and running.

See your healthcare provider if running or other activities lead to shin splint symptoms and rest doesn’t help.

You should also see your healthcare provider if you have pain in your joints or bones that lingers. Tiny fractures may be present. In the case of acute periostitis, a serious infection could be damaging your bones.

During your appointment, your healthcare provider will examine the affected area. They may apply some pressure to the area to help diagnose the problem, so be prepared for a little discomfort.

Tests they may order include:

• an X-ray, which may reveal fractures or signs of damage due to infection
• an MRI scan, which can provide a detailed look at the bone and the surrounding soft tissue
• bone scans to determine if an infection is present
• a complete blood count to determine your white blood cell count and look for evidence of infection

Your treatment options depend on the type of periostitis you have.

Treatment for acute periostitis

Healthcare providers use antibiotics to treat the underlying infection caused by acute periostitis. If the infection produces pus and fluid, your healthcare provider may need to drain it surgically.

They may also have to remove any bone tissue that becomes necrotic from infection. Doing this can prevent the spread of infection. This is called surgical debridement.

Treatment for chronic periostitis

For shin splints and similar stress-related injuries, try rest and ice. Take a break from high-impact activities, such as running or jumping. Try going with more low-impact exercises, such as biking or swimming.

Applying ice can bring down swelling and reduce inflammation. Taking an anti-inflammatory medication, such as ibuprofen (Advil), may also help.

If home remedies don’t work, you may have a more serious underlying injury that requires physical therapy. You may need a steroid injection to reduce the inflammation. In general, though, resting the affected area should ease symptoms.

If you have surgery to treat acute periostitis, you’ll probably get antibiotics intravenously, or through your veins, for 4 to 6 weeks. A few weeks of oral antibiotic treatment may follow. After that, your recovery will depend on the nature of the bone surgery.

If you had surgery on a bone in your leg, you might need several weeks of physical therapy to regain normal walking ability. If you had surgery on a bone in your arm, you might need to limit the use of that arm for several weeks.

For a minor case of shin splints, a few days of rest and ice may be enough to ease the inflammation.

Periostitis can develop when minor injuries aren’t allowed to heal properly. The more time you give the little injuries to heal, the more likely you are to avoid a major problem later.

Acute periostitis is rare if you haven’t had bone surgery or if you don’t have major infections or circulation problems.

Preventing chronic periostitis is often a matter of avoiding overuse injuries. If you run frequently, work with a trainer or coach to make sure your form is correct. The same is true for dancers and other athletes.

If you enjoy activities that place you at risk for periostitis, you should pay attention to pain signals. Stop exercising if you feel anything unusual, especially in your joints or in the long bones of your arms and legs.

The most important step in preventing acute periostitis is to control any conditions that increase your risk of developing this disease. This includes:

• managing your blood sugar if you have diabetes
• quitting smoking if you smoke
• managing your weight
• making dietary changes to manage blood pressure and cholesterol levels

If your healthcare provider has told you that you’re at an increased risk for infection, take precautions to avoid cuts, scrapes, and exposure to people who have infectious diseases.

You may have a higher risk of infection if you have a weakened immune system.

Pain in your legs, back, or arms may be due to a serious but treatable condition. Don’t ignore the pain. Make an appointment with your healthcare provider and follow their recommended treatment regimen.

Periostitis isn’t always preventable, but you can reduce your risk.