Osteomyelitis of the pubic ramus misdiagnosed as septic arthritis of the hip.

This is a case report of an 11-year-old male Saudi who presented with osteomyelitis of the left pubic ramus who was misdiagnosed and treated as a case of septic arthritis of the hip. Subsequent re-evaluation upon referral was carried out using CT scan and MRI which clarified the diagnosis. The lesion was explored, the pus drained and necrotic material excised. The patient was subsequently managed on antibiotics with complete resolution. The rarity of pelvic osteomyelitis in childhood is stressed and the causes for delay in diagnosis are stressed.