Imaging of musculoskeletal infections

Abstract

Acute infections of bones, joints and soft tissues are a common clinical problem in children and adults, and considered therapeutic emergencies. Their manifestations are variable and influenced by many circumstances, such as patient age, acute or chronic nature of the infection, infecting organism (bacteria, mycobacteria, fungus), location (bone marrow, bony cortex, periosteum, soft tissue, synovial joint, intervertebral disc), route of infection (hematogenous seeding, contiguous spread, direct traumatic or iatrogenic implantation), and pre-existing predisposing pathologies (immunocompromising diseases, bone diseases, implants).