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Case Reports
. 2017:2017:6573271.
doi: 10.1155/2017/6573271. Epub 2017 Apr 18.

Osteomyelitis of the Patella in a 10-Year-Old Girl: A Case Report and Review of the Literature

Matthias Sperl  1 , Michael Novak  1 , Daniela Sperl  2 , Martin Svehlik  1 , Georg Singer  3 , Tanja Kraus  1
Affiliations
Case Reports

Osteomyelitis of the Patella in a 10-Year-Old Girl: A Case Report and Review of the Literature

Matthias Sperl et al. Case Rep Orthop. 2017.

Abstract

The incidence of osteomyelitis constantly declines. While the disease most commonly affects the long bones, involvement of the patella is rarely seen. Due to this rarity and the variable clinical presentation, diagnosis is often delayed. The present case report describes a 10-year-old female patient with a delayed diagnosis of patella osteomyelitis. The diagnostic procedures and the treatment regimen are described. Additionally, a detailed literature review of the available publications reporting osteomyelitis of the patella in children is presented.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Radiographs of the knee joint 8 weeks after the first symptoms. A hypodense area is visible at the upper pole of the patella.
Figure 2
Figure 2
MRI showing a sharply limited enhancement of the patella. The radiologist suspected a chondroblastoma.
Figure 3
Figure 3
CT of the left knee clearly showing an osteolytic process with sharp borders.
Figure 4
Figure 4
Follow-up radiographs 17 months after surgery revealing an almost normally appearing patella.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

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