Osteomyelitis in Children with Sickle-cell Disease

Abstract

Summary. A retrospective review of 59 children with sickle-cell disease and osteomyelitis seen over a 10-year period at the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, Enugu, has revealed multiple bone involvement in 54% of the patients. Although gram-negative organisms were more commonly isolated than gram-positive ones, Staphylococcus aureus was the most common single organism isolated. Initial antibiotic treatment was guided by local experience and was supple mented with blood transfusion and splinting of the affected bones, to avoid pathologic fractures.