The Ravaging Nature Of Chronic Osteomyelitis; Total Destruction Of The Right Tibia In A 2-Year-Old.

Abstract

A 2-year-old female child had a swollen right leg after a fall and the mother took her to a patent drug dealer for treatment. During the course of treatment, she developed multiple pusdischarging ulcers in the affected leg, limb pains and was feverish. At the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital, after being referred from a missionary Hospital, a series of radiological examinations revealed that she had (stage IV Osteomyelitis) Chronic osteomyelitis with soft tissue abscess and the gradual destruction of the right tibial bone as time went by was shown until the entire bone was obliterated. Such extensive destruction of a bone following chronic osteomyelitis is a rarity. Presently she cannot walk on her own but the plan is to manage the condition conservatively until she is 10 years old when Tibialization of the fibular will be done.