Plain Radiographic Features of Bone Destruction Levels in Mandibular Osteomyelitis Defect Post Staphylococcus aureus Induction: In vivo Study

Staphylococcus aureus is the primary causative agent of osteomyelitis. Plain radiography is the initial diagnostic tool for distinguishing osteomyelitis from other bone conditions, and assists in assessing disease progression. These benefits include low radiation exposure, improved availability, cost-effectiveness, and ease of use. This was an in vivo study involving mice. The subjects were divided into the treatment and control groups and observed on days 3, 7, 14, and 28th of the experiment. The treatment group underwent mandibular drilling and Staphylococcus aureus induction. The control group underwent mandibular drilling only. Radiographic findings of mandibular bone defects include periosteal reactions, diaphyseal widening, osteolysis, bone deformation, and sequestral formation. The statistical tests consisted of the Mann-Whitney and Friedman tests. There were significant differences in bone destruction levels in occlusal dementia between the treatment and control groups, which were found on the 3rd day of observation. The treatment group exhibited greater bone destruction (5.67 ± 3.62) compared to the control group (2.00 ± 2.49), with a z-value of -2.214 and a statistically significant p-value of 0.027. 14th showed higher bone destruction levels (5.83 ± 2.64) than the control group (4.33 ± 3.61), with a z-value of -2.660 and a highly significant p-value of 0.008. On the 28th day the trend persisted, as the treatment group displayed more bone destruction (5.50 ± 3.27) compared to the control group (3.33 ± 3.44), with a z-value of -2.034 and a significant p-value of 0.042. No significant differences in the lateral dimensions were found between the treatment and control groups. In each group, significant differences were found only in the treatment group; in the occlusal dimension, sequestrum formation (p = 0.006) was found, and in the lateral dimension, diaphyseal widening (p = 0.022), osteolysis (p = 0.017), and sequestrum formation criteria (p = 0.015) were observed. The z-value measures the magnitude and direction of the difference, whereas the p-value assists in determining if this difference is statistically significant. Subjects induced with Staphylococcus aureus showed severe bone destruction compared to those without Staphylococcus aureus induction.