Osteomyelitis of the pubis. Report of seven cases
R. del Busto, E. L. Quinn, E. J. Fisher and T. Madhavan
Seven cases of osteomyelitis of the pubis are reported. Predisposing
factors leading to osteomyelitis included parenteral drug abuse in six
patients and pelvic surgery in one patient. The average duration of
symptoms before diagnosis was three weeks. Needle aspiration of the
symphysis pubis was performed in five patients, and culture results were
positive in three of them. Two patients with negative cultures of needle
aspirates had positive cultures from open biopsy specimens of the symphysis
pubis. Blood cultures were done in all patients, and results were positive
in two of them. Pseudomonas aeruginosa was the responsible pathogen in five
patients, Escherichia coli in one, and Staphylococcus aureus in one. Most
patients required several weeks of antibiotic therapy. None required
surgical debridement.
