An infant not moving her leg

Am J Emerg Med. 2016 Apr;34(4):756.e1-2. doi: 10.1016/j.ajem.2015.07.073. Epub 2015 Jul 30.

Abstract

A 4-week-old female infant presented to the emergency department (ED) due to a 1-week history of not moving her left lower extremity as well as crying during diaper changes. She had been seen 6 days prior at an ED, had normal x-rays, and was discharged home. The infant was afebrile and well appearing and had been feeding well all week. Laboratory tests in our department, including a complete blood count with differential and inflammatory markers, were all normal. Repeat x-rays showed a subtle distal tibial lucency, initially overlooked. The infant was admitted to the hospital and received a magnetic resonance imaging,which demonstrated distal tibial osteomyelitis with an accompanying ankle effusion. Cultures from the bone grew group B Streptococcus, and the infant received 6 weeks of antibiotic therapy.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Ankle / pathology
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / therapeutic use
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Infant, Newborn
  • Leg / physiopathology
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging
  • Movement
  • Osteomyelitis / diagnosis*
  • Osteomyelitis / drug therapy
  • Radiography
  • Streptococcal Infections / diagnosis*
  • Streptococcal Infections / drug therapy
  • Streptococcus agalactiae*
  • Tibia / diagnostic imaging
  • Tibia / microbiology
  • Tibia / pathology*

Substances

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents