You may need surgery as well as antibiotics. Surgery can remove dead or infected bone and drain away pus that has built up in your bone. Surgery is more likely if you have chronic or severe osteomyelitis. You will be given an anesthetic so you won't feel any pain. If a lot of your bone has to be removed, you may also need to have a bone graft-bone is taken from one of your other, uninfected, bones (usually the bone just above your hip) to replace the bone that has been destroyed. You may also need plastic surgery to cover the damaged skin and tissue with healthy tissue. If your infection has been caused by a joint replacement, your surgeon will normally have to remove the new joint before you can have any other treatment. You will have another new joint put in once your infection has gone.
Attribution: BUPA