Complications of suppurative arthritis and osteomyelitis in children

Three children with suppurative arthritis and osteomyelitis are described to emphasise that delayed or incorrect diagnosis may lead to serious cardiopulmonary complications. In two patients, bilateral bronchopneumonia developed with pneumatocoeles, pneumothorax and empyema. The other had cardiac failure from septic pericarditis. In one case, disarticulation of the knee was needed as a life-saving measure, and the other leg developed an infected pseudarthrosis of the tibia. The causative organism in each case was staphylococcus aureus and no evidence of immunodeficiency was demonstrated.