Long- and Midterm Outcomes of Osteoarticular Infections in Paediatric Patients

LOOP- Long- and Midterm Outcomes of Osteoarticular Infections in Paediatric Patients.

Multi-centre clinical follow-up study on patients with a history of acute haematogenous osteomyelitis and/or septic arthritis. The aim is to describe the frequency of sequelae in these former patients with osteoarticular infections. Patients will be invited to participate in a single follow-up visit including a standardised interview and a clinical examination. The collected data will be analyzed together with data from the patient's hospital stay.

Clinical follow-up study on patients with a history of acute haematogenous osteomyelitis and/or septic arthritis and were admitted to one of the participating centres between 2005 and 2014.

Former patients will be invited to participate in a single-follow-up visit which comprises a standardised interview (pain, disabilities in daily life and regarding sports) and a standardized clinical examination of the previously affected body part. This includes assessment of range of motion in affected and adjacent joints and in case of previously affected lower extremity leg axis, gait and body height (percentile).

The data collected during the follow-up visit will be analyzed in a descriptive manner together with data of the patient's hospital stay including baseline data, laboratory works, microbiological results and both antibiotic and surgical treatment.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Patients who were previously admitted to the participating centres between January 2005 and November 2014
• Patients with an International Classification of Disease code (ICD-10) discharge code of acute osteomyelitis (M86.00-M86.99) and/or septic arthritis (M00.00-M00.99)

Exclusion Criteria:

• onset of symptoms > 2 weeks before admission
• history of penetrating wound or Prior surgery at affected limb
• incorrect ICD-10 coding
• chronic or severe underlying disease or Treatment at time of infection that possibly compromises the patient's immunologic Response (e.g. cancer, immunodeficiency, immunosuppressive therapy)
• insufficient command of German language to understand patient Information and informed consent