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Case Reports
. 2023 Oct 28;17(1):471.
doi: 10.1186/s13256-023-04172-w.

Acute osteomyelitis, thrombophlebitis, and pulmonary embolism: a case report

Mohammad Sheikh Najeeb  1   2 , Afif Alshwaiki  1   2 , Nafiza Martini  3   4 , Tamim Alsuliman  5 , Banan Alkharat  6 , Ali Alrstom  6
Affiliations
Case Reports

Acute osteomyelitis, thrombophlebitis, and pulmonary embolism: a case report

Mohammad Sheikh Najeeb et al. J Med Case Rep. .

Abstract

Background: Septic pulmonary embolism (SPE), deep vein thrombophlebitis (DVT), and acute osteomyelitis (AOM) form a triad that is rarely seen in children and is usually associated with a history of trauma on long bones. Unfortunately, a delay in diagnosis is frequently observed in this syndrome, which places the patient at risk of life-threatening complications. This delay can largely be attributed to the failure to consider osteomyelitis as a potential underlying cause of DVT.

Case presentation: In this case report, we present the case of a 16-year-old Arabian male who presented with limb trauma and fever. The patient had a delayed diagnosis of osteomyelitis, which resulted in the formation of an abscess and subsequent joint destruction. Surgical drainage and joint replacement surgery were deemed necessary for treatment.

Conclusions: persistent fever along with a history of trauma on a long bone with signs of DVT of the limb in a child should raise concern for osteomyelitis and an MRI evaluation of the limb should be obtained.

Keywords: Acute osteomyelitis; MRI; Pulmonary embolism; Thrombophlebitis; Trauma.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no competing interests.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
chest X-ray for the patient on admission showing bilateral pulmonary infiltrates (red circles). Arrow refer to bilateral pulmonary infiltrates
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Computed tomography scan of the patient’s chest showing right lower lobe opacity with diffuse nodular opacities and cavitation in both lungs
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
Left hip joint computed tomography showing a hypodense transverse lesion with a non-regular border on the intertrochanteric line that extends to the hip joint, indicating a fracture
Fig. 4
Fig. 4
Magnetic Resonance Imaging of the hip joint showing bone marrow edema in the femur bone with joint effusion
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

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