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Periosteal injury (traumatic periostitis): causes, symptoms, diagnosis, treatment
Last reviewed: 23.04.2024
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ICD-10 code
T14. Injury to unspecified location.
What causes damage to the periosteum?
Traumatic periostitis is a kind of contusion of soft tissues, arises as a result of a direct mechanism of trauma. The most frequently affected areas are bones that do not have a muscular cover and are adjacent to the skin: the crest of the tibia, the lower third of the forearm, the skull bones, etc. As a result of mechanical damage to the periosteum, its aseptic inflammation develops.
Symptoms of periosteum damage
In the acute stage, the symptoms of traumatic periostitis are no different from bruises.
Diagnosis of damage to the periosteum
Anamnesis
In the history - indication of an injury.
Examination and physical examination
In the acute stage, swelling, bruising and pain at the site of the injury are revealed. In the following days, weeks and even months, local edema of the tissues and pronounced pain syndrome continue to persist. Palpation in the area of the injury is felt thickening of a significant density, originating from the bone.
Laboratory and instrumental research
In the acute stage, the x-rays of the tibia (the most frequent localization of periostitis) do not find pathologies.
In the process of treatment, the lesion undergoes reverse development, the tissue structure is restored, takes its original form, but in some cases may develop ossifying periostitis. Then on the roentgenograms parallel to the cortical layer of the bone and next to it a dark band appears, which later merges with the shadow of the bone, forming an overlapping with a wavy or dentate surface.
Treatment of periostitis injury
First aid
Immediately after the injury, the damaged area is irrigated with chloroethyl.
Conservative treatment of periostitis injury
Within 1-2 days, use an ice pack. Assign rest and elevated limb position. From the 3rd day, UHF, followed by electrophoresis of procaine, iodine, ozocerite applications, ultraviolet irradiation. If there is a threat of infection, antibiotics are prescribed.