Pediatric musculoskeletal infections are common globally and represent about 1-2% of all pediatric hospital admissions in the developed world and about 10-20% of admissions in the developing countries. If untreated or treated inadequately, pediatric bone and joint infections can cause significant mortality and morbidity. The functional and economic burden to the family and community at large also presents a significant public health problem.

This book serves as an evidence-based, comprehensive review of the current concepts for the early diagnosis and management of pediatric musculoskeletal infections. Currently, there are no comprehensive, easily accessible books on this topic. This first of its kind book also uses a multidisciplinary and global approach by including contributions from editors and authors worldwide. The long-term goal of this text is to help improve the quality of care provided to children with musculoskeletal infections improve patient safety, reduce the cost of care, and add value to the care provided to these children and thus reduce the economic burden.

Broken up into five sections, the first part of this text covers the epidemiology, microbiology, pathological consequences, antibiotic therapies, systemic effects, and imaging modalities of pediatric musculoskeletal infections. Section two takes a detailed look at acute pediatric musculoskeletal infections. Infections discussed in this section include acute hematogenous osteomyelitis, septic arthritis, pyomyositis, complex musculoskeletal infections, musculoskeletal infections in the neonate and acute surgical site infection after pediatric orthopedic surgery. Section three focuses on chronic osteomyelitis and its sequelae. Section four examines anatomic region-specific considerations in musculoskeletal infections. The topics that are expanded upon are epiphyseal osteomyelitis, Pediatric hand and foot infections, tuberculosis of the axial and the appendicular skeleton, and non-tuberculous infections of the spine. Finally, the fifth section includes an overview of less common musculoskeletal conditions such as, fungal infections, brucellosis, hydatid disease, gas gangrene, viral musculoskeletal infection and meningococcal infections.

Written by experts in the field, Pediatric Musculoskeletal Infections: Principles and Practice serves as an easily accessible resource for a global audience of healthcare providers from multiple disciplines to aid them in making informed decisions while managing pediatric bone and joint infections. Paediatricians, orthopedic surgeons, infectious disease physicians, radiologists, pathologists, family physicians and any other healthcare providers involved in the care of children with musculoskeletal infections will find immense value in this reference as will medical students, residents and fellows.