Unusual presentation of anaerobic osteomyelitis

Acute hematogenous osteomyelitis was detected in a 23-year-old sickle-cell patient after standard radiographs of the right femur showed gas within the medullary cavity. Three anaerobic organisms were cultured from surgically aspirated materials, but no source of infection was found. After surgical drainage and six weeks of intravenous clindamycin therapy, there was clinical improvement and radiographic resolution of the gas formation.