All issues > Volume 12(12); 1969

Case Report

J Korean Pediatr Soc. 1969;12(12):707-714. Published online December 31, 1969.

Hematogenous Pyogenic Osteomyelitis of the Spine in Children

Chan-Yung Kim¹, Yeung-Shin Kwark¹, Chong-Dae Cho², Un-Ho Lee²

¹Department of Pediatrics, College of Medicine, Pusan Naticnl University
²Pusan Clinic, The Save the Children Fund

Abstract

Three cases of hematogenous pyogenic osteomyelitis of the spine in children (7 months-old female, 3yrs-4 mos-old male and 10 yrs-3 mos-old female) at the attatched clinic of the Save the Children Fund and Pusan Children’s Cherity Hospital has been reported during the period of May, 1965 to May, 1969, with a review of the related literatures. The incidence of hematogenous pyogenic osteomyelitis of the spine, especially in children, has teen known to be relatively rare, and the clinical importance in the differential diagnosis of tuberculosis of the spine is specially emphasized in Korea. Lumbar spine was invaded in two cases and thoracic in one cases as the site of infection. The causative organism was coagulase positive staphylococci in 2 cases and no organism was isolated in one case. In the clinical manifestation initial symptoms, which were systemic fever and toxicity but sign of cord compression such as paralysis was not found. In all 3 cases leucocytosis, elevated E.S.R. and repeated negative Mantoux tests (O.T. or P. P.D.) were resulted. Roentgenograms showed narrowing of the intervertebral space and iroth-eaten appearance of the vertebral bodies. Treatment was done conservatively with antibiotics and bed rest in plaster-cast together with drainage of purculent fluid from the infected lesion.

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