Role of Ultrasonography in Early Diagnosis of Acute Osteomyelitis

Abstract

Background: Osteomyelitis is the inflammation involving bone and bone marrow caused by a pathogenic organism. Acute osteomyelitis is one of the commonest bone infection in childhood and is a significant cause of morbidity. Timely diagnosis and intervention is critical for outcome. Imaging studies play an important role in diagnosis of osteomyelitis. Various modalities, including conventional radiography, bone scintigraphy, ultrasonography, computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance (MR) imaging have all been used. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the diagnostic value of ultrasonography in early diagnosis of acute osteomyelitis

Methods: A prospective non-randomized analytical study in 30 children with sign and symptoms suggesting acute osteomyelitis presenting in Emergency Room(ER) and Out-patient department (OPD) of Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital (TUTH) was carried out. Plain radiograph was done to each patient followed by Ultrasonography.

Results: Twenty four patients (80%) were finally diagnosed to have osteomyelitis. Distal femur was most commonly involved site (33.33%). Sensitivity of USG was found to be 91.6% and specificity to be 83.3%.

Conclusion: Ultrasonography was found to be highly sensitive and highly specific in early diagnosis of acute osteomyelitis in children with clinical suspicion of the disease and negative plain radiographs.