Osteomyelitis in Burn Children: Ten Years of Experience

Introduction: Osteomyelitis is uncommon among burn patients.

Objective: To describe the clinical, microbiological, and evolutionary characteristics of burn children with osteomyelitis hospitalized in a tertiary care facility.

Methods: Retrospective and descriptive study conducted between January 2007 and January 2017.

Results: Out of 600 burn children, 12 developed osteomyelitis (incidence: 2%). Eleven patients had a burn caused by direct fire. Patients' median age was 42.5 months (interquartile range [IQR]: 27-118 months), and their median burned surface area was 33.5% (IQR: 18.5-58%). Osteomyelitis was diagnosed at a median period of 30 days following the burn injury. The most common locations were the upper limbs and the cranial vault. Fever was the most frequent clinical manifestation. The most common microorganisms isolated in bone tissue were fungi in 9 patients. All showed compatible anatomopathological findings. The treatment lasted a median of 44.5 days (IQR: 34.5-65.5 days). Six patients had motor sequelae and 1 died.

Conclusion: Fungal osteomyelitis was the most commonly observed etiology. Half of patients had functional sequelae and only 1 patient died.