INCIDENCE AND CLINICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF PAEDIATRIC OSTEOMYELITIS IN A TERTIARY CARE CENTRE: A RETROSPECTIVE DESCRIPTIVE STUDY
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Keywords
Paediatric osteomyelitis; Staphylococcus aureus; MRSA; Uttarakhand; retrospective study; antimicrobial therapy; tertiary care
Abstract
Background: Paediatric osteomyelitis remains a significant cause of morbidity in resource-limited settings in India. Tertiary care institutions in Uttarakhand receive referrals from hilly and semi-urban districts where delayed diagnosis and limited radiology access complicate outcomes. Data specific to this demographic remain sparse in the published literature.[1,2]
Objectives: To determine the incidence, age–sex profile, anatomical distribution, microbial aetiology, treatment modalities, and short-term outcomes of acute and subacute osteomyelitis in children aged 0–18 years admitted to SMIH, Dehradun during May–December 2018.
Methodology: A retrospective descriptive study was conducted using case records of 105 patients. Data were collected on demographics, clinical presentation, laboratory parameters, microbiological culture, imaging, treatment protocols, and outcomes. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS v.20 (IBM Corp., Armonk, NY).[3]
Results: Of the 105 cases, 66.7% were male. The 6–10-year age group was most affected (33.3%). The femur (27.8%) and tibia (23.5%) were the most commonly involved bones. Staphylococcus aureus was isolated in 49.5% of culture-positive cases (n=84); MRSA accounted for 21.4% of isolates. Conservative management was sufficient in 58.1% of cases. Chronic osteomyelitis developed in 9.5%. Socioeconomic disadvantage and delayed presentation were significantly associated with unfavourable outcomes (p<0.05).[4–8]
Conclusion: Paediatric osteomyelitis at SMIH presents predominantly in school-age males with femoral and tibial involvement. S. aureus dominates the microbial profile, with a rising MRSA burden demanding empiric vancomycin coverage in specific high-risk groups. Early diagnosis, targeted antibiotics, and surgical referral pathways remain critical for improving outcomes in this vulnerable population.
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Dr. Baraiya Ashvin Ishvarbhai
Assistant Professor, Department of Paediatrics, SGRRIM&HS, Dehradun, Uttarakhand, India
Dr. Patel Ruchir Ganpatbhai
Assistant Professor, Department of Orthopaedics, SGRRIM&HS, Dehradun, Uttarakhand, India
