Femoral osteomyelitis after tooth extraction.

Up to 35% of normal individuals may harbor Hemophilus aphrophilus in their oropharynx. Generally, this organism is well tolerated and rarely causes systemic infections; however, osteomyelitis may occur and it has previously been described involving the spine. Because of an intrinsic ability to inhibit leukocytes, osseous infections from this organism characteristically present in an insidious fashion. A case of severe femoral osteomyelitis after dental extraction is described.