CASE REPORTS
JOURNAL ARTICLE
Add like
Add dislike
Add to saved papers

Foci of chronic circumscribed osteomyelitis (Brodie's abscess) that traverse the epiphyseal plate.

We observed six children who presented with chronic circumscribed osteomyelitis involving the adjacent metaphysis and epiphysis of a long bone, communicating through and damaging the growth cartilage of the epiphyseal plate. Four of the six children were less than or equal to 10 years of age. All six patients presented with the mild symptoms and subtle clinical findings that are characteristic of "Brodie's abscess," which is usually confined to metaphyseal, or occasionally epiphyseal, bone. Four children were treated with antibiotics and by surgical evacuation of the abscess, with visualization of the defect in the epiphyseal plate. Two children were treated with antibiotics alone, initially by the intravenous route. At follow-up 2-14 years after treatment, all affected children had a normal result without evidence of growth disturbance. There are seven previously reported cases of chronic circumscribed osteomyelitis traversing the epiphyseal plate that resulted in growth disturbance. Based on our experience and that reported in the literature, we believe that the intravenous administration of appropriate antibiotics in high doses, followed by oral antibiotics, is sufficient treatment for some children presenting with this condition. The pathogenic organism is likely to be Staphylococcus aureus. Surgical evacuation of the lesion should be performed for acute osteomyelitis involving the epiphyseal plate, for sinus formation or drainage into a synovial joint, for failure of the patient to respond clinically to nonoperative therapy, and for confirmation of the diagnosis if doubt exists.

Full text links

We have located links that may give you full text access.
Can't access the paper?
Try logging in through your university/institutional subscription. For a smoother one-click institutional access experience, please use our mobile app.

For the best experience, use the Read mobile app

Mobile app image

Get seemless 1-tap access through your institution/university

For the best experience, use the Read mobile app

All material on this website is protected by copyright, Copyright © 1994-2024 by WebMD LLC.
This website also contains material copyrighted by 3rd parties.

By using this service, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy.

Your Privacy Choices Toggle icon

You can now claim free CME credits for this literature searchClaim now

Get seemless 1-tap access through your institution/university

For the best experience, use the Read mobile app