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Salmonella osteomyelitis of the calcaneum bone in an immunocompetent child
Mohamed Abdulla1, Yazan S Khaled, Harish Kapoor
1aDepartment of Trauma and Orthopaedic Surgery, Leeds General Infirmary bSection of Translational Anaesthetic and Surgical Sciences, University of Leeds cSection of Translational Anaesthetic and Surgical Sciences, Leeds Institute of Molecular Medicine, Leeds, UK.
Insights
Salmonella osteomyelitis is rare in healthy children, but this case highlights a subacute calcaneal infection. Prompt diagnosis and treatment led to a full recovery, emphasizing its consideration in pediatric cases.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Infectious Diseases
- Orthopedic Surgery
- Microbiology
Background:
- Salmonella osteomyelitis is an uncommon bone infection, particularly in immunocompetent children.
- Subacute presentations are rare and challenging to diagnose.
- Osteomyelitis of the calcaneum (heel bone) is infrequent.
Observation:
- A healthy 12-year-old child presented with subacute symptoms.
- The infection was localized to the calcaneum.
- The causative agent was identified as Salmonella livingstone.
Findings:
- This is the first reported case of primary subacute Salmonella osteomyelitis of the calcaneum in a healthy child.
- The patient recovered fully after surgical intervention and antibiotic treatment.
- Histological examination confirmed Salmonella livingstone as the pathogen.
Implications:
- Salmonella osteomyelitis, even in its subacute form, should be considered in the differential diagnosis of bone infections in healthy children.
- Early recognition and appropriate management are crucial for favorable outcomes.
- This case expands the understanding of Salmonella osteomyelitis presentations in pediatric populations.
Abstract:
Salmonella osteomyelitis occurs infrequently in healthy children and can manifest in the subacute form. This condition has only been reported in few cases previously. We report the first case of primary subacute haematogenous osteomyelitis of the calcaneum in a healthy 12-year-old child. The patient made uneventful recovery following surgical drainage and antibiotic therapy. Histology of the tissue biopsy confirmed a diagnosis of Salmonella livingstone infection. Although the diagnosis of Salmonella osteomyelitis of the calcaneum can be difficult to establish, it should be considered as an aetiological factor even in healthy children.
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