Epidemiologic, bacteriologic, and long-term follow-up data of children with acute hematogenous osteomyelitis and septic arthritis: A ten-year review

A total of 69 children with acute hematogenous osteomyelitis and 48 with se ptic arthritis admitted in the period 1978 through 1987 were included in a retrospective review. Epidemiologic and bacteriologic data were analyzed an d compared with those of an earlier study (1965 through 1975), confined to the same geographic area. Long-term outcome was evaluated by a questionnair e and clinical and radiographic follow-up. A significant increase in the ad mission rate for both disorders was observed. The long-term outcome was fav orable: major sequelae were found in three patients (3%), minor sequelae in two patients (2%). The benign long-term outcome may well be related to rap id hospital admission and appropriate long-lasting antibiotic treatment.