[Correlational aspects of hematogenous osteomyelitis in children and adults]

Osteomyelitis is an inflammation of the bone caused by an infecting organism. The infection may be limited to a single portion of the bone or may involve a number of regions such as the marrow, cortex, periostium and even the surrounding soft tissue.

This retrospective study included a number of 256 cases made by 152 children (56%) and 115 adults (44%).

Hematogenous osteomyelitis appears at any age, most frequently in growth period, 85% cases until 16 years. This study relieve a high frequency of subacute (40.1%) and acute (31.1%) hematogenous osteomyelitis compare with chronic form (28.8%). Regarding the distribution of cases by sex, there are no differences between man and woman in chronic osteomyelitis, but subacute form is most frequently at men. The analysis of the cases distribution by location and sex relieve that at womans metaphysis and diaphysis are most interested (70.09%) but only 53.7% at men. Regarding the treatment, the distribution of cases relieve that chronic osteomyelitis generally cannot be eradicated without surgical treatment (sequestrectomy and resection followed by reconstruction with material. Those others forms, acute and subacute hematogenous osteomyelitis, were resolved with medical and surgical treatment, equally.

Prompt diagnosis and early treatment are required to prevent further destruction and growth disturbance. Generally, a multidisciplinary approach is required, involving an orthopaedic surgeon, an infectious disease specialist and a plastic surgeon in complex cases with soft tissue loss.