Putrid infectious pubic osteitis: case report and review of the literature on the differential diagnosis and treatment of infectious pubic osteitis and inflammatory pubic osteitis.

INTRODUCTION: The differential diagnosis of osteolytic, destructive, and inflammatory processes around the symphysis, the os pubis, and the ramus ossis pubis includes infectious osteitis pubis, inflammatory osteitis pubis, posttraumatic benign pubic osteolyses in elderly women, and malignant neoplasia. Accurate diagnosis can be a challenge and requires a methodical approach and the use of a variety of diagnostic measures. MATERIALS: A case study of an 83-year-old female suffering from infectious pubis osteitis sheds light on the differential diagnosis of these conditions, particularly the distinction between infectious pubic osteitis and inflammatory pubis osteitis. In addition to the diagnostic indicators and methodologies, differential treatments are considered and a review of current literature on the topic is presented.