Neonatal cervical osteomyelitis with paraspinal abscess and Erb's palsy - A case report and brief review of the literature

An unusual case of pyogenic cervical osteomyelitis is reported in a newborn who immediately after birth had no movements in the left shoulder. There w as a fullness in the left cervical region. Left Erb's palsy due to an unrec ognized birth trauma was diagnosed in a peripheral hospital. Later, the chi ld developed fever and a significant swelling in the left cervical region. On transfer to our institution, the X-rays of the cervical spine, ultrasoun d and computed tomography (CT) established the diagnosis of C-6 cervical os teomyelitis and paraspinal abscess which extended to the posterior triangle of the neck. The abscess was drained, and the lamina and lateral mass of t he C-6 vertebra were debrided, Staphylococcus aureus was grown from the pus . The patient was put on long-term antibiotics to which he responded very w ell, and he became asymptomatic. In the immediate post-operative period, so me movements at the left shoulder were noted, and at 6-month follow-up in t he out-patient clinic, the child was virtually normal with near-complete re generation of the C-6 lamina and lateral mass. Copyright (C) 2000 S. Karger AG, Basel.