Foci of Chronic Circumscribed Osteomyelitis (Brodieʼs Abscess) That Traverse the Epiphyseal Plate

We observed six children who presented with chronic circumscribed osteomyelitis involving the adjacent metaphysis and epiphysis of a long bone, communicating through and damaging the growth cartilage of the epiphyseal plate. Four of the six children were less than or equal to 10 years of age. All six patients presented with the mild symptoms and subtle clinical findings that are characteristic of "Brodie's abscess," which is usually confined to metaphyseal, or occasionally epiphyseal, bone. Four children were treated with antibiotics and by surgical evacuation of the abscess, with visualization of the defect in the epiphyseal plate. Two children were treated with antibiotics alone, initially by the intravenous route. At follow-up 2-14 years after treatment, all affected children had a normal result without evidence of growth disturbance. There are seven previously reported cases of chronic circumscribed osteomyelitis traversing the epiphyseal plate that resulted in growth disturbance. Based on our experience and that reported in the literature, we believe that the intravenous administration of appropriate antibiotics in high doses, followed by oral antibiotics, is sufficient treatment for some children presenting with this condition. The pathogenic organism is likely to be Staphylococcus aureus. Surgical evacuation of the lesion should be performed for acute osteomyelitis involving the epiphyseal plate, for sinus formation or drainage into a synovial joint, for failure of the patient to respond clinically to nonoperative therapy, and for confirmation of the diagnosis if doubt exists.