[Psoas abscess in children based on a series of 18 cases].
OBJECTIVE
Psoas abscess is very rare in children and raises problems concerning the clinical and aetiological diagnosis. The authors describe the characteristics of this rare disease and emphasize the role of imaging in the diagnostic approach and therapeutic management.


METHODS
The authors report a series of 18 cases children aged 11 months to 13 years treated between 1988 and 2000 in the Monastir department of paediatric surgery. The time to diagnosis ranged from 4 days to 1 month. The clinical features comprised fever, abdominal pain and functional impairment of the homolateral lower limb in 17 cases.


RESULTS
Ultrasound was performed systematically and established the diagnosis in 17 cases. Computed tomography, performed in 13 cases, confirmed the diagnosis and demonstrated the aetiology in 3 cases. The microorganism was isolated in 16 cases (Staphylococcus aureus in 13 cases). An aetiology was identified in 4 cases: acute appendicitis, Potts disease, sacro-iliitis and perirenal abscess. Treatment comprised systematic antibiotic therapy combined with drainage of the abscess in 16 cases, which was performed surgically in 4 cases and percutaneously in 12 cases.


CONCLUSIONS
The prognosis of psoas abscess in children is generally favourable. CT- or ultrasound-guided percutaneous drainage is a valuable alternative to surgery, which must be reserved for cases of failure of percutaneous drainage.
Belgith
Mohsen
M
Service de Chirurgie pédiatrique, Hôpital Fattouma Bourguiba, Monastir, Tunisie.
Ben Brahim
Mohamed
M
Jouini
Riadh
R
Boudhina
Nabil
N
Mekki
Mongi
M
Nouri
Abdellatif
A
D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D016659:Psoas Abscess / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy