Osteomyelitis can be difficult to diagnose. Unlike septic arthritis no defined diagnostic criteria exist as a guide. Inflammatory markers are frequently utilized at initial presentation, (in addition to white cell count). All radiologically confirmed cases of long bone osteomyelitis without septic arthritis, joint effusion or abscess, in paediatric patients, presenting to one hospital over an eighteen-month period were included. These patients were compared with all culture positive septic arthrides presenting to the same hospital within the same time period. Inflammatory markers taken on the day of admission were studied.Background
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