Although pathogens causing osteomyelitis vary, relatively uncommon microorganisms can cause osteomyelitis in immunosuppressed patients. In this study we aimed to present the diagnosis and treatment of a patient with a rare case of osteomyelitis due to infection with a species of Fusobacterium.
A 48-year-old female patient complaining of swelling and pain in her left thigh for the last three months was referred to our clinic with a prediagnosis of bone malignancy based on the MRI findings. The patient had a history of immunosuppressive drug use for scleroderma. The patient suffered a pathological femoral fracture two days after her first visit to us. Abscess drainage and debridement were performed to treat her osteomyelitis, and an osteosynthesis including antibiotic cement-coated intramedullary nail insertion was performed for the fracture. Fusobacterium necrophorum grew in the culture of the preoperative specimens. The patient for whom vacuum-assisted closure was used during her hospitalization was discharged after the acute phase reactants returned to normal and the IV antibiotic treatment was completed. It should be noted that bacteria from the genus Fusobacterium can cause osteomyelitis in immunosuppressed patients, and that while making the differential diagnosis of the lytic lesions of bones osteomyelitis is one of the possibilities.
Subjects | Health Care Administration |
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Journal Section | CASE REPORT |
Authors | |
Publication Date | April 30, 2016 |
Acceptance Date | February 6, 2016 |
Published in Issue | Year 2016 |
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