Subacute osteomyelitis has a very anodyne symptomatology and is, therefore, difficult to diagnose. We studied 21 cases treated between 1984 and 1998 with subacute osteomyelitis of variable location and a mean diagnostic delay of 158.5 days. Of these, 10 cases could not be placed in the current classification. Diagnosis was radiologic in all cases, although in a few patients confirmation by isotopic bone scan and magnetic resonance imaging was required. Treatment was surgical in the first 11 cases to become, currently, predominantly conservative. The causal microorganism was only isolated in nine cases. Complete healing without sequelae was achieved in all but one case, which was of very tardy diagnosis and developed coxarthrosis.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.