Femur showing changes due to septic osteomyelitis.
GC.3499
Femur. Half of a sagittal section of the distal two-thirds of a, with a portion of the tibia, showing changes due to septic osteomyelitis.
From a young male the subject during two years of septic osteomyelitis of the femur with necrosis. No treatment was adopted other than dressing and confinement to bed with his knee in a flexed position, until amputation through the thigh was performed.
The femur forms an irregular bulky mass, the distal epiphysis of which is a mere fenestrated shell of thin translucent bone. The original femoral diaphysis is represented by two thin irregular sequestra loosely retained on the posterior aspect by the light porous new bone of the involucrum, which replaces the rest of the diaphysis. The tibial diaphysis separated from its proximal epiphysis is smooth on the surface but decalcified to translucency, and the distal half of its posterior surface to fenestration. Decalcification has entirely removed the trabeculae and cancellous bone from the marrow cavity of the tibia.
