Septic bursitis of the foot: diagnosis, management and end-result

Septic bursitis of the foot is a disorder infrequently reported in the medical literature. This infrequent reporting may represent a true low incidence of occurrence or may be a reflection of failure to recognize and diagnose this condition. This paper retrospectively reviews the presentation, clinical course, and outcome of patients presenting with septic bursitis of the foot. The authors have reviewed those features of this disorder that may aid the clinician in diagnosis and management of this infrequent, but disabling entity. They describe a brief case history of 10 patients with septic bursitis of the foot, provide radiographic and microbacterial evaluation, and give an outcome determination. They make recommendations for diagnosis and treatment based upon this review of patients and review of the literature.