Osteomyelitis of skull with underlying brain abscess

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Rajniti Prasad1, Nishant Verma, O P Mishra

  • 1Department of Pediatrics, Institute of Medical Sciences, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi 221005, India. rajnitip@gmail.com

Indian Journal of Pediatrics
|February 24, 2011
PubMed

Insights

Neonatal calvarial osteomyelitis, a rare condition caused by Staphylococcus aureus, can lead to brain abscess and long-term neurological deficits like cerebral palsy.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric infectious diseases
  • Neonatal neurology
  • Medical imaging in pediatrics

Background:

  • Neonatal osteomyelitis of the calvaria is an uncommon but serious infection.
  • Staphylococcus aureus is a common pathogen in neonatal infections.

Observation:

  • A case report of a 4-week-old infant with Staphylococcus aureus osteomyelitis affecting the right parietal and temporal bones.
  • Clinical presentation included a characteristic "moth-eaten" appearance on CT scan.

Findings:

  • CT scan revealed a multiloculated brain abscess with encephalomalacia.
  • Successful treatment involved intravenous antibiotics and surgical drainage.
  • The infant developed hemiplegic spastic cerebral palsy post-treatment.

Implications:

  • Early diagnosis and prompt treatment are crucial for managing neonatal calvarial osteomyelitis.
  • Despite successful infection control, significant neurological sequelae such as cerebral palsy can occur.
  • This case highlights the importance of long-term neurodevelopmental follow-up in affected infants.

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