Brodie's abscess of the ulna caused by Salmonella typhi

KC Ip, YL Lam, Robert YP Chang
Department of Orthopaedics and Traumatology, Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Kowloon, Hong Kong

Osteomyelitis caused by Salmonella typhi is rare in patients with no haemoglobinopathies or other diseases causing immunosuppression. Brodie's abscess is a special variety of subacute or chronic osteomyelitis. An otherwise healthy woman who presented with forearm swelling for 6 months was diagnosed with a Brodie’s abscess of the ulna caused by Salmonella typhi. Magnetic resonance imaging and a computed tomography–guided needle biopsy were performed. She was later found to be a Salmonella carrier. The Brodie's abscess was treated by surgical debridement and a course of antibiotics. The clinical, radiological, and management aspects of the disease are discussed.

Hong Kong Med J 2008;14:154-6

Key words: Abscess; Osteomyelitis; Salmonella typhi