Table 1.

Manifestations of 27 cases of osteomyelitis

Figure 1.

Pre- and post-operative imaging comparison of osteomyelitis. Case 2 in Table 1 (a-c, A-C): Osteomyelitis of the left proximal humerus and infection of the left shoulder joint. a: preoperative X-ray showed the bone destruction of the proximal left humerus, considering osteomyelitis of the proximal left humerus; b: preoperative computed tomography (CT) showed that the bone destruction with soft tissue shadow was seen in the proximal left humerus, no periosteal reaction was seen, local bone cortical discontinuity and swelling of the surrounding soft tissue; c: preoperative 3D CT reconstruction showed that the extent of bone destruction was predominantly medial to the proximal humeral epiphysis, and bone defects were also seen in the area adjacent to the growth plate, suggesting a late outgrowth disorder in the child. A: two-day postoperative X-ray; B: 20-day postoperative X-ray showed that although the abscess had drained, the process of bone destruction continued to worsen; C: 120-day postoperative X-ray showed that bone reconstruction of the proximal humerus was visible, but the morphology of the proximal humeral epiphyseal nucleus had lost its normal shape, suggesting the possibility of growth disorder of the proximal humerus, which required long-term follow-up. Case 8 in Table 1 (d-f, D): Chronic osteomyelitis of the right fibula. d: preoperative X-ray showed hypodensity of the right middle fibula, cortical thickening, sclerosis, and possible chronic osteomyelitis. e: preoperative CT-abnormal morphology of the right fibula, irregular thickening and partial discontinuity of the bone cortex, inhomogeneous density of the bone marrow cavity, multiple dead bone-like changes visible; swelling of the surrounding soft tissues, blurring of the muscle gap, and a local defect of the fibular cortex, suggesting the formation of local bony sinus tracts in the fibula. f: preoperative magnetic resonance imaging (MRI, T2W signal sequence) showed patchy high signal was seen in the medullary cavity of the bone stem and the surrounding soft tissues. D: one-day postoperative X-ray suggested complete removal of dead bone from the fibula and the localized area was given artificial bone filling the implant.