What lab finding is typically observed in a patient with osteomyelitis?

In cases of osteomyelitis, the typical laboratory finding is an elevated white blood cell count. This increase reflects the body's immune response to infection, as osteomyelitis is most commonly caused by bacterial infection of the bone. The presence of an elevated white blood cell count indicates an active inflammatory process, which is characteristic of an infectious state like osteomyelitis.

While normal white blood cell count can be seen in some chronic or less severe infections, it is not typically associated with a diagnosis of osteomyelitis at the onset in acute cases. The other laboratory findings, such as low hemoglobin and high hematocrit, are not directly associated with osteomyelitis and may indicate other underlying health conditions. Therefore, elevated white blood cell count is key in the assessment of osteomyelitis, helping to signal the presence of infection.