Acute hematogenous osteomyelitis of the talus: a case report

Abstract

In children, osteomyelitis is common in the long bones of the femur and the tibia. However, talar osteomyelitis is extremely rare. The condition is difficult to diagnose due to the slow onset and atypical pattern of the symptom. We report the case of a 9-month-old male, coming from a rural area, with talar osteomyelitis. The patient's history of a trauma that resembled an ankle contusion had delayed the diagnosis and subsequently developed into septic arthritis. He was treated by curettage, immobilization in plaster and appropriate antibiotics with full recovery of function in his right ankle and foot three months after the first outpatient visit. The bony cavity was healed six months after the operation and there were no growth disturbances or any abnormalities of the adjacent joints. This case report aims to present the difficulties in the diagnosis and therapeutic approach of this disease.