[Septic osteomyelitis of the hip after Fusobacterium necrophorum pharyngitis]

We report the case of a patient presenting with Lemierre's syndrome with an initial atypical presentation due to a predominant hip localization. Despite the adapted antibiotic treatment and surgical drainage, the patient relapsed. The bone and joint biopsy samples were sterile but the presence of the Fusobacterium necrophorum was demonstrated by PCR.

Lemierre's syndrome may have different clinical presentations, due to the localizations of septic emboli. Careful attention should be paid to common ENT infections with an unfavorable evolution despite antibiotics. PCR has become a very interesting tool to document bone and joints bacterial infections when cultures are negative.