Resident Series: Osteomyelitis (with Dr. Benjamin Hechler)

In this episode of Every Day Oral Surgery, we talk about osteomyelitis, a rare disease that manifests in a range of patients and is often difficult to diagnose, with expert Dr. Benjamin Hechler. Dr. Hechler is an Assistant Professor and Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon at Duke University Health System and specializes in oral, head, and neck oncologic surgery. We unpack the various challenges associated with diagnosing osteomyelitis and hear the gold standard regarding treatment. Listeners will learn about the different types of osteomyelitis which can manifest and the steps to take to treat osteomyelitis effectively. We also find out why you should not rely on imaging for diagnoses, why it is considered a surgical issue, and when osteomyelitis can become more advanced and spread. Discover the first steps to take when dealing with osteomyelitis diagnoses, the people most at risk, how to avoid additional surgeries, and when it is appropriate to use antibiotics for treatment. Tune in to learn everything you need to know about osteomyelitis to ensure that your patients get the best treatment possible with Dr. Benjamin Hechler!

Key Points From This Episode:

• We start the show by learning the official definition of osteomyelitis.
• Dr. Hechler outlines the different classifications of osteomyelitis.
• The best approach to diagnose osteomyelitis.
• Why you cannot diagnose osteomyelitis from a CT scan alone. 
• What you should consider when reviewing the radiologist report. 
• Problems associated with diagnosing osteomyelitis.
• When Dr. Hechler thinks you should send the patient for more advanced imaging.
• Whether there is a timeline in determining if the patient has any osteomyelitis infection.
• Hear about patient factors that will increase the likelihood of osteomyelitis.
• Discussion about the possible reasons someone may suffer from osteomyelitis.
• Immediate steps to take when you first suspect the possibility of osteomyelitis.
• What you should do once osteomyelitis has been confirmed from biopsies. 
• Learn when osteomyelitis can become more advanced and extend below the canal.
• The role of antibiotics in treating the different types of osteomyelitis.
• Dr. Hechler’s approach to determining the extent of surgery needed to treat osteomyelitis.
• A rundown of the adjunctive treatments available and if they are effective. 
• We discuss the challenges for surgeons when defining osteomyelitis.
• The different types of treatments available for diffuse sclerosis-related issues. 

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Dr. Benjamin Hechler on LinkedIn — https://www.linkedin.com/in/ben-hechler/

Duke University Health System — https://www.dukehealth.org

VA Durham health care — https://www.va.gov/durham-health-care/

Everyday Oral Surgery Website — https://www.everydayoralsurgery.com/ 

Everyday Oral Surgery on Instagram — https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-hirsch-126210bb/
Everyday Oral Surgery on LinkedIn — https://www.instagram.com/everydayoralsurgery/ 

Everyday Oral Surgery on Facebook — https://www.facebook.com/EverydayOralSurgery/

Dr. Grant Stucki Email — grantstucki@gmail.com

Dr. Grant Stucki Phone — 720-441-6059