A case report of complete tibia diaphysis extrusion in chronic osteomyelitis

Abstract

Late presentation to hospital is still a common occurrence in Nigeria. Chronic osteomyelitis of the tibia is not an uncommon infective condition in a 4-year-old boy, but delaying the search for hospital treatment until a full length of the diaphysis is extruded is uncommon. He complained of pain and fever and was noticed by the mother to be listless and was no longer playful. Over several months, his condition seemed to be improving, but a large bone was sticking out of a sinus. It was at this advanced stage that the patient was brought to our level II surgical facility. The entire tibia diaphysis was removed as a sequestrum, and the boy was ambulant again after 11 weeks. The aim of this report is to highlight this unusual condition and the need for continued health education as well as for the clinician not to despair in the management of similar neglected cases in a resource-poor setting.