Lower extremity fractures simulating infection in myelomeningocele.
Thirteen patients with myelomeningocele sustained 33 fractures of the lower extremity. Fourteen fractures were accompanied by increased local heat, swelling, redness and a systemic response, including an elevated temperature and leukocyte count. Diagnosis of these fractures, which occur without a significant history of trauma, requires special roentgenographic studies. If routine films fail to reveal a fracture in a swollen red extremity in patients with myelomeningocele, stress films should be obtained in the area of the major swelling or where clinical pseudo-motion is suspected. The proper treatment of these fractures and the associated elevated temperature is immobilization. When these injuries are immobilized, the leukocyte count and temperature quickly return to normal.
D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003951:Diagnostic Errors; D005260:Female; D005334:Fever / Q000209:etiology; D050723:Fractures, Bone / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis*; D006801:Humans; D007239:Infections / Q000175:diagnosis*; D007869:Leg Injuries / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis*; D008297:Male; D008591:Meningomyelocele / Q000150:complications*