Sub-acute hematogenous carpal osteomyelitis with secondary septic arthritis in a pediatric patient: Case Report

Abstract

A case is presented, a 5-year-old male patient with a diagnosis of subacute hematogenous osteomyelitis of the scaphoid, trapezius, large bone, lunate and distal radius segment, with associated intercarpal and radiocarpal septic arthritis, without history of previous skin lesions.

Clinical diagnosis was confirmed by laboratories, X-rays, MRI and intraoperative findings; negative microbiological cultures. Managed with surgical drainage and intravenous antibiotic treatment with postoperative clinical improvement. The current literature reports few cases of osteomyelitis in the carpus in the pediatric population and they are associated in most cases with underlying skin lesions. This case is interesting since not only is an isolated carpal osteomyelitis reported, but also presents secondary septic arthritis.