Pediatric Musculoskeletal Infection

Abstract

Few conditions in pediatric orthopaedics provoke more apprehension than a child with a musculoskeletal infection (MSKI). In addition to potential for devastating complications, the infectious organisms, technology to diagnose MSKI and pharmacology to treat MSKI evolve continuously. For these reasons, it is essential that pediatric orthopaedic surgeons be up to date on the current and future MSKI practices. In this review, current and potential future practices are systematically reviewed categorized by the four main tasks of the care team treating MSKI: determining 1) that location of the infection 2) is it an infection, and if so, what is the organism 3) how severe is the infection and 4) how to treat the infection. Finally, considering current events, the philosophy and tools highlighted for use in MSKI are paralleled in COVID-19 (SARS-CoV-2).