All issues > Volume 33(4); 1990

Original Article

J Korean Pediatr Soc. 1990;33(4):499-505. Published online April 30, 1990.

Clinical observation of Osteomyelitis in Childhood.

Seong Gyoo Park¹, Young Suk Hong¹, Se Jin Kang¹, Sun Gyum Kim¹, Pyung Hwa Choi¹

¹Department of Pediatrics, College of Medicine, Korea University, Seoul, Korea

Received: June 15, 1989;  Accepted: September 23, 1989.

Abstract

After the discovery of penicillin by Fleming in 1939, the mortality rate in the acute stage of the childhood osteomyelitis was markedly decreased. But, because of abuse & misuse of the antibiotics and increment of resistant organisms to antibiotics, the incidence of complications, prevalance and chronic cases tended to increase. During the period of 12 years and 10 months extending from April, 1975 to January, 1988, we have experienced 98 cases of childhood osteomyelitis and analyzed the clinical findings. The results obtained were as follows: 1) Male to female ratio was 2.16 to 1 with male preponderance, and 70% of total cases were 6 to 15 years of age. 2) Most fo cases showed pain, local tenderness, swelling, local heating and limitation of range of motion. 3) Among 98 cases of osteomyelitis, 22 cases combined with trauma (23%) and 9 cases (9%) with respiratory tract infection. 4) The most common causative organism was Staphylococcus aureus, and this organism showed the highest sensitivity to methicillin, gentamicin and cephalosporin. 5) The most common site of involvement was the tibia and the femur in order. 6) Among 69 cases erythrocyte sedimentation rates were elevated in 88% of cases, (elevated in 88% of male cases and 90% of female cases) 7) Both initial X-ray findings and bone scannings were positive in 75% of cases that performed.

Keywords :Osteomyelitis, Children