Hematogenous Osteomyelitis of the Patella in a Child

Abstract

The early diagnosis of osteomyelitis of the patella in children is difficult due to rarity of this infection and lack of radiologic signs in the early stage. The authors report a case of hematogenous osteomyelitis of the patella in an 8-year-old boy and review the literature. The disease should be highly suspected in a patient with persistent pain and swelling of the knee that does not respond to conventional management. Surgical debridement is the treatment of choice when the diagnosis has been delayed or there is a sequestrum in the image study. The diagnosis should be differentiated with septic arthritis of the knee. Arthrotomy is not necessary in osteomyelitis of the patella and may produce infection into the joint.