Abstract
The earliest radiographic changes of osteomyelitis in the long bones is deep-seated edema manifesting as soft tissue swelling and obliteration of the intermuscular planes adjacent to the affected bone. Similarly, the early change of rib osteomyelitis is pericostal edema demonstrated by soft tissue swelling of the thoracic wall accompanied by an adjacent inward pleural displacement. In both osteomyelitis of the rib and the long bones, the bony changes will appear 1–2 weeks later. Pericostal edema can be readily diagnosed by ultrasound scan. Pericostal edema, although non specific and can occur in other conditions, yet it is a strong warning sign, set within the overall clinical picture of osteomyelitis.
Article PDF
Similar content being viewed by others
Avoid common mistakes on your manuscript.
References
Levinsohn EM, Sternick A, Echeoverria TS and Yuan HA (1982) Acute hematogenous osteomyelitis of the rib. Skeletal Radiol 8: 291–293
Komolafe F (1982) Pyogenic osteomyelitis of the rib in children. Pediatr Radiol 12: 245–248
Donovan RM and Shah KJ (1982) Unusual sites of acute osteomyelitis in childhood. Clin Rad 22: 222–230
Mollan RAB, Piggot J (1977) Acute osteomylitis in children. J Bone Joint Surg (Br) 59: 2–7
Dich VQ, Nelson JD, Haltalin KC (1975) Osteomyelitis in infants and children. A review of 163 cases. Am J Dis Child 129: 1273–1278
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Bar-Ziv, J., Barki, Y., Maroko, A. et al. Rib osteomyelitis in children. Early radiologic and ultrasonic findings. Pediatr Radiol 15, 315–318 (1985). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02386765
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02386765