Latent Chronic Osteomyelitis Presenting Decades After Initial Trauma: A Case Report and Literature Review

Osteomyelitis is an inflammatory bone process secondary to infection, and often presents as a chronic, recurrent illness, posing diagnostic and treatment challenges. It is frequently the result of previous inadequate treatment or undiagnosed acute infection. Clinical suspicion, thorough evaluation,...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Curēus (Palo Alto, CA) CA), 2024-06, Vol.16 (6), p.e61789
Main Authors: Alalman, Obada, Sakhat, Georges, Alam, Elie, Mallat, Hassan, Chalouhi, Mario
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Abscesses
Antibiotics
Biopsy
Case reports
Chronic illnesses
Fractures
Infectious Disease
Laboratories
Magnetic resonance imaging
Orthopedics
Pain
Pathogens
Staphylococcus infections
Trauma
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Summary:Osteomyelitis is an inflammatory bone process secondary to infection, and often presents as a chronic, recurrent illness, posing diagnostic and treatment challenges. It is frequently the result of previous inadequate treatment or undiagnosed acute infection. Clinical suspicion, thorough evaluation, laboratory studies, and advanced imaging modalities such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and computed tomography (CT) play crucial roles in diagnosis. Treatment typically entails a combination of antibiotics and surgical debridement to eliminate infection and facilitate bone healing. In this report, we present a rare case involving a 64-year-old male who presented with new-onset pain in the right femur decades after experiencing a complicated femur fracture and forearm crush injury. Imaging studies revealed evidence of chronic osteomyelitis, leading to a diagnosis of latent infection. The patient underwent a comprehensive evaluation, including clinical examination, imaging studies, laboratory tests, and bone biopsy, confirming the diagnosis. This case of latent osteomyelitis highlights the clinical presentation, diagnostic modalities, and treatment strategies employed in managing this challenging condition.
ISSN:2168-8184
2168-8184
DOI:10.7759/cureus.61789