What's the diagnosis? By Dr. Sydney Tabaac
A 65 yo male pmhx DM, HTN, HLD, presents with left foot pain and swelling. An x-ray is shown. What's the diagnosis? Scroll down for answer
Answer: Osteomyelitis
- Etiology
- Hematogenous: more common; seeding in setting of bacteremia
- usually monomicrobial - S. aureus (most common), aerobic gram negative rods
- Non-hematogenous: spread from adjacent soft tissue and joints or direct inoculation (i.e., trauma, surgery)
- polymicrobial or monomicrobial - S. aureus, coag-negative staph, aerobic gram negative bacilli
- Risk factors: DM, IVDU, vasculopathy, recent invasive procedures
- Differential: soft tissue infection, charcot arthropathy, osteonecrosis, gout, fracture, bursitis, bone tumor
- Labs: CBC, ESR, CRP, blood cultures
- Imaging: test of choice is MRI
- Confirmation: bone biopsy for culture
- Treatment: 4-6 weeks of antibiotics (+/- surgery)
Resources:
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Grosheider, Thomas, and Suzanne M. Shepherd.. "Injection Drug Users." Tintinalli’s Emergency Medicine: A Comprehensive Study Guide, 8e Eds. Judith E. Tintinalli, et al. New York, NY: McGraw-Hill, 2016
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Lalani, T, and Schmitt K (2019). Osteomyelitis in adults: Clinical Manifestations and Diagnosis. UpToDate. Retrieved November 19, 2019. From https://www.uptodate.com/contents/osteomyelitis-in-adults-clinical-manifestations-and-diagnosis?search=osteomyelitis&source=search_result&selectedTitle=2~150&usage_type=default&display_rank=2