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. 2005 Feb;29(1):55-8.
doi: 10.1007/s00264-004-0597-3. Epub 2004 Oct 14.

Osteomyelitis in Polynesian children

Melissa Rossaak  1 , Rocco P Pitto
Affiliations

Osteomyelitis in Polynesian children

Melissa Rossaak et al. Int Orthop. 2005 Feb.

Abstract
in English, French

Polynesians, including New Zealand Maori, are known to be prone to bacterial infections. We studied 85 New Zealand children with osteomyelitis requiring admission in a tertiary care hospital in a 2-year period in order to attain information regarding incidence and relative risk. During the observation period, the hospital was responsible for the healthcare of a total population of 103,900 children per annum. An increased relative risk of Polynesian and Maori children to suffer from osteomyelitis was calculated to be 3.84. The major pathogenic organism was Staphylococcus aureus. Complications such as extension to adjacent joints or sepsis were a rather rare occurrence. Further research is required to identify whether genetic predisposition or social and environmental circumstances are involved in this phenomenon.

Les polynésiens, en incluant les Maori de Nouveau Zélande, sont connus pour être enclin aux infections bactériennes. Nous avons étudié 85 enfants de Nouveaux Zélande avec une ostéomyélite nécessitant l’admission dans un hôpital de soin tertiaire, pendant une période de deux années,pour connaître la fréquence et le risque relatif. Pendant la période d’observation l’hôpital était responsable d’une population totale de 103.900 enfants par année. Un risque relatif augmenté pour les enfants Polynésiens et Maoris de souffrir d’ostéomyélite a été calculé à 3,84. L’organisme pathogène majeur était le staphylocoque doré. Les complications comme l’extension à des articulations voisines ou une septicémie étaient plutôt rares. Des recherches supplémentaires sont nécessaires pour apprécier si une prédisposition génétique ou des circonstances sociales ou environnementales sont impliquées dans ce phénomène.

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Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
A 7-year-old New Zealand Maori boy with acute osteomyelitis of the distal right femur requiring surgical drainage. a Anteroposterior and lateral view radiographs of the right knee show no bony abnormalities. b MRI of the right knee (lateral plane and axial plane, T2-weighted images) show subperiosteal abscess in the posteromedial aspect of the distal femur. The joint appears normal.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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