What is an expected assessment finding in a patient with osteomyelitis?

An expected assessment finding in a patient with osteomyelitis is an elevated erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR). This is a common laboratory test used to detect inflammation in the body. In cases of osteomyelitis, which is an infection of the bone, inflammation occurs as the body responds to the infection, leading to an increase in the ESR. A high ESR indicates an ongoing inflammatory process, which supports the diagnosis of osteomyelitis, as the condition typically presents with signs of infection and subsequent inflammatory response.

Other findings such as decreased white blood cell count or negative wound cultures would not be consistent with osteomyelitis, as infections usually lead to an increased white blood cell count, and wound cultures would generally be positive if an infection is present. Additionally, normal temperature regulation is unlikely in osteomyelitis since patients often experience fever as part of the systemic response to infection.