Misconceptions about childhood acute osteomyelitis

Excerpt

Osteomyelitis has been a formidable disease in many countries. Many clinicians continue to implement older treatment regimes due to ingrained fear of chronic disease. The spectre of chronic osteomyelitis with its sequestra and discharging sinuses may over-ride the accumulated but sometimes inaccessible evidence of recent years. The authors believe it timely to correct two misconceptions about acute osteomyelitis that lead to confusion, controversy and cost. It must, however, be stressed that only primary acute osteomyelitis is considered here. When joint involvement, chronic and sub-acute disease, multi-focal disease or an immunologically compromised child are implicated, each must be treated on its own merits. …