Subacute Osteomyelitis in Children

Subacute osteomyelitis has a very anodyne symptomatology and is, therefore, difficult to diagnose. We studied 21 cases treated between 1984 and 1998 with subacute osteomyelitis of variable location and a mean diagnostic delay of 158.5 days. Of these, 10 cases could not be placed in the current classification. Diagnosis was radiologic in all cases, although in a few patients confirmation by isotopic bone scan and magnetic resonance imaging was required. Treatment was surgical in the first 11 cases to become, currently, predominantly conservative. The causal microorganism was only isolated in nine cases. Complete healing without sequelae was achieved in all but one case, which was of very tardy diagnosis and developed coxarthrosis.