Iliac osteomyelitis was diagnosed, in many cases after considerable
delay, in twenty (2.3 per cent) of 867 children with hematogenous
osteomyelitis. In ten patients coagulase-positive Staphylococcus aureus was
identified. The symptoms and signs of iliac osteomyelitis depend on the
direction of spread of the inflammation. The children presented with one of
these syndromes: gluteal, abdominal, or lumbar disc. The diagnosis can be
established early be careful physical examination: manual compression of
the pelvis produces pain on the affected side, and palpation reveals
tenderness over over the site of infection. The inflammatory process can be
located even in early cases on a bone scan with radioactive technetium.
When diagnosed early, the infection can be cured with intensive intravenous
antibiotic therapy alone.