[Acute osteomyelitis in a child with homozygous sickle cell anemia. Difficulty in early diagnosis]

Abstract

Febrile painful edema of a limb segment in Black children should suggest a bone complication (infarct or osteomyelitis) of a homozygous sickle cell anemia. The possibility of an early diagnosis can be improved by scintigraphy since the appearance of radiologic signs is delayed in relation to functional symptomatology onset. The risk of an infectious graft, particularly from Salmonella in children under 2 years, on a bone infarct makes it essential to combine routine antibiotic therapy with the orthopedic treatment, to provide resolution of the very often quite impressive lesions.