Brodie's abscess of the calcaneus due to Serratia marcescens

Brodie's abscess is a subacute or chronic osteomyelitis characterised by an intraosseous abscess. It may present months to years after the inciting event. Staphylococcus aureus is the most common causative organism of Brodie's abscess, while Gram-negative bacteria are uncommon causative organisms. A combination of culture-directed antibiotics and surgical debridement is key to successful management. This case report describes a patient with a history of minor trauma preceding the development of Brodie's abscess of the calcaneus caused by Serratia marcescens This was managed successfully with surgical debridement, followed by oral antibiotics.