J Korean Orthop Assoc.  1979 Sep;14(3):365-373. 10.4055/jkoa.1979.14.3.365.

A Clinical Observation on Infectious Cystic Lesions in the Metaphysis of Long Bones

• Suk SI
• Song HS

• KMID: 2460275
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4055/jkoa.1979.14.3.365

Abstract

A clinical observation of 30 cases of pyogenic abscess and 18 cases of tuberculous abscess in the metaphysis of long bones during the past 15 years was carried out and following results were obtained. 1. The highest age incidence was the second decade (53.3%) in pyogenic abscess and the first decade (44.4%) in tuberculous abscess. 2. Average duration of symptoms were 1.6 years in pyogenic abscess and 2.3 years in tuberculous abscess. 3. Chief complaint on admission was pain both in pyogenic abscess (56.7%) and in tuberculous abscess (27.8%). 4. The tibia was the most common site in pyogenic abscess and the femur in tuberculous abscess. 5. Leucocyte count was increased more than 15, 000/mm in 23.3% of pyogenic abscess and 22. 2% of tuberculous abscess. 6. Erythrocyte sedimentation rate was increased more than 21mm/hr in 60.0% of pyogenic abscess and in 44.4% of tuberculous abecess. 7. Epiphysis was involved in 23.3% of pyogenic abscess and 38.9% of tuberculous abscess. 8. The positive result on bacteriologic culture was 46.7% in pyogenic abscess and 22.2% in tuberculous abscess. Coagulase positive staphylococcus aureus was cultured in 12 cases and other organisms were cultured in 2 cases. 9. Differential diagnosis between pyogenic, tuberculous abscess, and cystic tumors was not easy in many cases. Preoperatively, 5 cases of pyogenic abscess were misdiagnosed as tuberculosis and 2 cases as osteod osteoid osteoma. 3 cases of tuberculous abscess were misdiagnosed as pyogenics and 1 case as giant cell tumor. 10. Various methods of surgery including saucerization, curettage and bone graft, resection of bony focus, and arthrodesis were carried out. There was no difference in the end result between them. 11. Shortening or deformity due to epiphyseal plate damage was occurred in 3 cases (10.0%) in pyogenic abscess and 4 cases (22.2%) in tuberculous abscess. Those complications could be minimized with meticulous surgery not damaging the epiphyseal plate.

MeSH Terms

Abscess
Arthrodesis
Blood Sedimentation
Coagulase
Congenital Abnormalities
Curettage
Diagnosis, Differential
Epiphyses
Femur
Giant Cell Tumors
Growth Plate
Incidence
Osteoma, Osteoid
Staphylococcus aureus
Tibia
Transplants
Tuberculosis
Coagulase