Periprosthetic Clostridium difficile hip abscess imaged with In-111 WBCs

During a prolonged hospital stay, left hip pain developed in a woman with sickle cell disease and bilateral hip prostheses. In-111 labeled WBC scintigraphy supplemented by Tc-99m SC bone marrow imaging demonstrated abnormal WBC accumulation surrounding the left greater trochanter. Results of surgical exploration showed an abscess involving the pseudocapsule, trochanteric bursa, and periprosthetic cement column. Cultures grew Clostridium difficile, an unusual pathogen in this site.