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Osteomyelitis of the calcaneus secondary to heel pad puncture: a case report
Journal of the National Medical Association
|July 1, 1977
Insights
Heel pad punctures in infants can lead to calcaneal osteomyelitis, a serious bone infection. Watch for heel swelling and redness, which may indicate this complication.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Infectious Diseases
- Orthopedic Surgery
Background:
- Heel pad puncture is a common method for collecting blood samples in infants.
- Acute osteomyelitis is a potential, though uncommon, complication of this procedure.
Observation:
- A case study of a 3½-month-old female infant with calcaneal osteomyelitis following a heel pad puncture is presented.
- The infant exhibited soft tissue swelling and erythema around the heel area.
Findings:
- The case highlights the risk of developing calcaneal osteomyelitis after heel pad puncture.
- Clinical signs such as localized swelling and redness are key indicators.
Implications:
- Physicians should maintain a high index of suspicion for calcaneal osteomyelitis in infants presenting with these symptoms post-puncture.
- Early diagnosis and treatment are crucial to prevent long-term complications of osteomyelitis.
Abstract:
Heel pad puncture, a well-established procedure for obtaining hematologic samples from infants, may be complicated by acute osteomyelitis of the calcaneus. One such case is presented which involved a 3½-month-old female. Physicians are cautioned that calcaneal osteomyelitis should be suspected if soft tissue swelling and erythema are present around the heel area.