Brodies Abscess

Brodie's abscess an inflammation and infection of a limb bone, usually caused by staphylococcus bacteria, which is most common in children and which causes degenerative changes in the tissue.

Causes and symptoms of Brodies abscess

Brodie's abscess is a chronic bone infection - infection can get into the bones in one of two ways - either directly at an accident which breaks the skin or at an operation - or secondly, by the blood supply.

The condition is more common in children than adults. The usual pathogen is Staphylococcus aureus but not infrequently no organism is isolated. The usual sites are the tibia or femur with the most common site being the distal tibial metaphysis. Clinical symptoms are often mild, generally presenting with persistent local pain.

In the early stages of osteomyelitis the x-rays are normal or may show some minor soft tissue changes. A nuclear bone scan is a much more sensitive test for detecting early disease.

Generally osteomyelitis has to be present for at least 4 to 7 days before there are significant radiological changes. If there are radiological changes, the most common appearance is irregular bone destruction.

Later periosteal reaction is seen, and even later this much better defined stage, known as a Brodies Abscess, is seen often when the osteomyelitis is inadequately or only partially treated.