title: Acute haematogenous osteomyelitis of the patella revealed by a pathological fracture in multiple myeloma.
abstract: A 57-year-old man was followed up for multiple myeloma with no lytic bone lesions. During a septicaema, he presented with a pathological fracture of the patella. Despite a poor haematological status, he received surgical treatment, which allowed diagnosis of haematogenous osteomyelitis of the patella. The outcome was favourable, with a 6-week plaster immobilization after cerclage and 4 months of intravenous antibiotic therapy. This case emphasizes the fact that one well-known cause of bone lesions may lead to an erroneous diagnosis. The successful clinical course suggests that accurate therapeutic management may be discussed in haematological malignancies when intensive-care support is available.
authors.affiliation: Service de Médecine Interne A, CHU Brabois, Vandoeuvre-lès-Nancy, France.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Guerci
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Mainard
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Thiery
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D016470:Bacteremia / Q000150:complications; D005598:Fractures, Spontaneous / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009101:Multiple Myeloma / Q000150:complications*; D010019:Osteomyelitis / Q000150:complications / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology*; D010329:Patella / Q000293:injuries*