Septic arthritis and deep vein thrombosis

Abstract

Acute osteoarticular infections are common in children and rarely complicated with deep vein thrombosis (DVT). This complication can cause significant morbidity and may even be fatal. Herein we report a fourteen year boy presenting with left knee pain and fever since 1 week with acute onset shortness of breath on day of admission. A left lower extremity venous doppler showed deep vein thrombosis of left popliteal vein. MRI knee suggestive of osteomyelitis of left tibia. High-Resolution Computed Tomography showed multiple patchy areas of consolidation with cavitations suggestive of septic emboli. He required prolonged hospital admission and was managed with surgical debridement, antibiotics and anticoagulation.