title: Update on imaging of orthopedic infections.
abstract: Although the diagnosis of infection is only a small part of the orthopedist's job description, it is a important part. This article discusses the fundamentals of orthopedic infections and highlights the refinements on this topic from a radiologic perspective. In addition to reviewing the imaging appearance of musculoskeletal infections in bone and the surrounding soft tissues, we focus on the advantages and disadvantages of five imaging methods: radiography, sonography, CT, scintigraphy, and MR imaging. Finally, we review three specific situations that have garnered substantial attention in recent medical literature: chronic recurrent multifocal osteomyelitis, musculoskeletal infections in AIDS patients, and pedal infections in diabetic patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, Massachusetts 02215, USA.
authors.forename: R D
authors.initials: RD
authors.lastname: Boutin
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Brossmann
authors.forename: D J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Sartoris
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Reilly
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Resnick
mesh_terms: D017719:Diabetic Foot / Q000175:diagnosis; D006679:HIV Seropositivity / Q000150:complications; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D010019:Osteomyelitis / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D018461:Soft Tissue Infections / Q000175:diagnosis*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed