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Bone and joint infections

Markus Pääkkönen1, Heikki Peltola

  • 1Department of Orthopaedics and Traumatology, Turku University Hospital, University of Turku, Turku 20521, Finland. Markus.Paakkonen@helsinki.fi

Pediatric Clinics of North America
|March 14, 2013
PubMed

Insights

Pediatric osteoarticular infections, often caused by Staphylococcus aureus, present as osteomyelitis or septic arthritis. Early diagnosis and treatment are crucial to prevent complications in children with bone and joint infections.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric infectious diseases
  • Musculoskeletal infections

Background:

  • Acute osteoarticular infections in children are typically hematogenous in origin.
  • These infections commonly manifest as osteomyelitis or septic arthritis.
  • Staphylococcus aureus is the most frequent causative pathogen.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To summarize the clinical presentation and management principles of acute pediatric osteoarticular infections.
  • To highlight the importance of early diagnosis and prompt treatment.

Main Methods:

  • Review of clinical presentations of pediatric osteomyelitis and septic arthritis.
  • Discussion of common etiologies and diagnostic timelines.
  • Emphasis on clinical signs and symptoms.

Main Results:

  • Children seek medical advice typically 2-6 days after symptom onset.
  • Osteomyelitis often presents as limping with or without tenderness.
  • Septic arthritis is characterized by visible joint redness, tenderness, and swelling.

Conclusions:

  • Prompt diagnosis and treatment are essential for favorable outcomes in acute bacterial bone and joint infections in children.
  • Timely intervention can prevent serious complications.

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