Ultrasonography in the diagnosis of chickenpox-related osteomyelitis

Osteomyelitis is a recognized but uncommon complication of chickenpox. Very little published information is available regarding imaging of this condition, particularly regarding ultrasonographic appearances. We report two cases of young children who developed osteomyelitis after chickenpox infection in whom ultrasonography proved a valuable adjunct to clinical diagnosis. In both cases sonography demonstrated a subperiosteal abscess, confirming the diagnosis. Ultrasonography precisely defined the extent of the subperiosteal collection in order to guide surgical drainage. We believe ultrasonography to be a useful method of investigation in a child with limb or joint pain after chickenpox infection.