Treating Orthopaedic Infections in Pediatric Patients

Pediatric musculoskeletal infections represent a wide spectrum of diseases and pose a treatment challenge for the orthopaedic surgeon. Prompt and accurate diagnosis and treatment are of utmost importance to prevent long-term sequelae and often require a multidisciplinary approach. Staphylococcus aureus is still reported as the most common causative organism of infection, with an increase in the number of methicillin-resistant S. aureus infections in more recent years. Treatment consists of a combination of surgical debridement and antibiotics. Close follow-up is required, as up to 6% of all infected children still suffer from permanent sequela.