A Metaphyseal Corner Fracture that Wasn't: A Case Report of Osteitis from Congenital Syphilis
Arun R Hariharan1, Lili Schindelar, Louise Reid Boyce Nichols
1Nemours/A.I. duPont Hospital for Children, Wilmington, Delaware.
Insights
Congenital syphilis (CS) rates are increasing. A misdiagnosed bone lesion in an infant highlights the importance of considering CS in pediatric differentials, even with rare presentations.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Infectious Diseases
- Skeletal Dysplasias
- Neonatal Health
Background:
- Congenital syphilis (CS) is a rare but increasingly reported condition in the United States.
- Early diagnosis and treatment are crucial to prevent severe complications in infants.
Case:
Congenital syphilis (CS) is an infrequently seen condition in the United States; however, rates of CS have been on the rise. We present a case of an infant with a lesion of the radius that was initially diagnosed as a metaphyseal corner fracture and treated as such until maternal syphilis testing was noted to be positive. Ultimately, the child was diagnosed with CS. She is now undergoing treatment with penicillin and recovering well.
Conclusion:
Although CS is rare, the incidence is on the rise and should remain on the differential of lytic lesions of bone in young children.
Related Concept Videos
01:27Fractures: Bone Repair
Minor fractures with no bone displacement are treated by immobilizing the fractured bone using a cast or splint. However, in the case of fractures with displaced bones, the broken bones are repositioned before immobilization to ensure successful healing without deformation and loss of function. The realignment of fractured bone ends is performed through a process called reduction. If the...
01:24Bone Formation by Endochondral Ossification
01:29Bone Disorders
Bone deposition is also affected by the levels of sex hormones like estrogen and testosterone that promote osteoblast activity and bone matrix synthesis. When the level of these hormones decreases due to aging, it causes a reduction in bone deposition. As a result, bone resorption by osteoclasts...
01:26Sexually Transmitted Infections
01:29Bone Formation by Intramembranous Ossification
The process begins when mesenchymal cells in the embryonic skeleton gather together and differentiate into osteogenic cells, which then develop into ...
01:09Spongy Bone
Spongy bone is more porous, and less dense compared to compact bone. It is composed of concentric lamellae that are arranged irregularly to form the trabecular network. In some bones, the spaces between trabeculae contain red marrow, where...