Acute Osteomyelitis

Acute Osteomyelitis, Osteomyelitis in Children, Pediatric Osteomyelitis, Acute Hematogenous Osteomyelitis

Inflammatory bone changes associated with pathogenic Bacteria (often monomicrobial)
1. Staphylococcus aureus is most common cause in Pediatric Osteomyelitis
Typically acute hematogenous spread to Traumatized bone
1. Most common in children under age 5 (50% of cases)
2. Most commonly affects the highly vascular metaphyses of long bone

Systemic signs of infection
Local signs of infection
1. Tenderness on palpation over involved bone
2. Localized inflammation with erythema and swelling
3. Decreased range of motion of adjacent joints
Distribution
1. Femur, tibia or fibula
  1. Account for 50% of Osteomyelitis cases in prepubertal children
  2. May present with Pediatric Limp
2. Vertebral Osteomyelitis
  1. Most common form of hematogenous Osteomyelitis, especially in older children or adults
  2. Presents with severe neck or back pain, Muscle tenderness and reduced range of motion
3. Other sites
  1. Sternoclavicular Bone
  2. Pelvic Bone
  3. Other long bones