Management of pediatric acute hematogenous osteomyelitis / 中华创伤骨科杂志

ABSTRACT

Acute hematogenous osteomyelitis (AHO) is the type of its kind diagnosed most frequently in pediatric patients. In the past decade, the incidence of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus infections has increased in children. The more complex situation of infections may lead additionally to deep vein thrombosis (DVT), septic pulmonary embolism, pneumonia, empyema, endocarditis, bacteremia and septic shock. Hence, hospital stays are often lengthy and patients often critically ill. Since delayed appropriate therapy can lead to chronic osteomyelitis, as well as impairments in bone growth and development, early accurate diagnosis and prompt initiation of appropriate treatment remain central principles in the evaluation and treatment of AHO. Therefore, care of children with AHO inevitably requires an organized and interdisciplinary approach to reach timely, comprehensive and accurate diagnoses so that effective treatment may be carefully planned and enacted with subsequent monitoring of the child until clinical resolution is achieved. This review is devoted exclusively to the management of AHO in children, providing an update on the current understanding of existing evidence and future directions to improve care for pediatric AHO.