ABSTRACT
Osteitis is defined as inflammation of bone. It can be due to a number of reasons, the most common of which is secondary to infection. This chapter deals with acute infection of the temporal bone known as acute mastoiditis and chronic mastoid infections coupled with middle ear disease and chronic otitis media. Temporal bone osteomyelitis, more often called skull base osteomyelitis as it progresses to other bones of the skull base, is the more invasive form of temporal bone osteitis. It usually occurs as a result of otitis externa in immunocompromised individuals. It can cause neuropathy of cranial nerves and is resistant to treatment. Other inflammatory conditions affecting the temporal bone are rare and much of the literature is limited to case reports rather than case series or larger studies. Osteitis affects the elderly, diabetics and immunocompromised individuals. Treatment comprises aural toilet, diabetic control and long term systemic antibiotics.
