Treatment of Brodie's abscess: excellent results from curettage, bone grafting and antibiotics.

INTRODUCTION: Brodie's abscess is not a common variant of subacute osteomyelitis; however, when it does occur, the presentation is atypical and usually late. This study aimed to describe the mode of presentation of Brodie's abscess and evaluate the results of surgical treatment in a resource-poor setting.

METHOD: Over a five-year period, we retrospectively reviewed 20 patients who presented to two tertiary health institutions in south western Nigeria with clinical and radiological features of Brodie's abscess.

RESULTS: Brodie's abscess accounted for just 2 percent of all patients with osteomyelitis. Most patients were adults (mean age 21.5 +/- 7.8 years) and males (75 percent). In the series, the tibia was involved in 50 percent of the cases, the femur in 30 percent, and the radius and fibula each in 10 percent. The diaphyseal part of the long bones was affected in 65 percent of the patients and the metaphysis, in the remaining patients. The average size of the cavities was 3.0 +/- 0.8 cm. 65 percent of the isolates yielded Staphylococcus aureus. All patients were treated by curettage of the abscess cavities, cancellous bone grafting and antibiotics. All patients had satisfactory outcomes, with complete incorporation of the grafts and new bone formation in the cavities. No patient reported any recurrence.

CONCLUSION: Patients with Brodie's abscess respond well to surgical curettage of the abscess, cancellous bone grafting and antibiotic therapy.