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Abstract
RÉSUMÉ
Introduction. Au Gabon, la distinction entre infarctus osseux et ostéomyélite aiguë chez l’enfant drépanocytaire est un défi diagnostique, source de retards thérapeutiques et de séquelles. L’objectif de notre étude était de décrire les caractéristiques épidémiologiques, diagnostiques et thérapeutiques des infections ostéo-articulaires (IOA) chez les enfants drépanocytaires à Libreville. Méthodologie. Il s’agissait d’une étude rétrospective monocentrique menée du 1er janvier 2022 au 31 décembre 2024 sur tous les enfants HbSS âgés de 4–17 ans hospitalisés pour IOA documentée cliniquement et/ou radiologiquement au CHU de Libreville. Résultats. Nous avons enregistré 33 enfants souffrant d’infections ostéo-articulaires sur 67 enfants drépanocytaires hospitalisés soit une prévalence de 49,3 %. L’âge moyen était de 11,1 ans pour un sex ratio de 2,3. Le délai moyen de consultation était de de 10,7 jours. De nos patients, 75,8 % étaient suivis régulièrement tandis que 24,2 % ont été découverts durant l’hospitalisation. Les localisations prédominantes étaient les membres inférieurs, particulièrement tibia (48,5 %), genou (24,2 %), fémur (18,2 %) et hanche (9,1 %). Les signes les plus retrouvés à la radiographie standard étaient l’ostéomyélite (54,5 %), l’ostéoarthrite (33,3%) et une ostéite (12,1 %). Un germe a été identifié chez 48,5 % des enfants. Les germes retrouvés étaient : Staphylococcus aureus (50 %) et Salmonella spp. (37,5 %). L’antibiothérapie probabiliste associait ceftriaxone + gentamicine chez tous, adaptée secondairement. Un traitement médico-chirurgical a été réalisé chez 48,5 % des patients. La durée moyenne d’hospitalisation était de 32 jours. Aucun décès n’a été retrouvé. Conclusion. Dans notre contexte, l’ostéomyélite aiguë domine les IOA de l’enfant drépanocytaire. S. aureus et Salmonella sont les principaux pathogènes. Un protocole standardisé « imagerie précoce + prélèvements + probabiliste active staphylocoques/salmonelles » semble pertinent.
ABSTRACT
Introduction. In Gabon, distinguishing between bone infarction and acute osteomyelitis in children with sickle cell disease is a diagnostic challenge, leading to delays in treatment and sequelae. The aim of our study was to describe the epidemiological, diagnostic and therapeutic characteristics of osteoarticular infections (OAIs) in children with sickle cell disease in Libreville. Methodology. This was a single-centre retrospective study conducted from 1 January 2022 to 31 December 2024 on all HbSS children aged 4–17 years hospitalised for clinically and/or radiologically documented OAI at the Libreville University Hospital. Results. We recorded 33 children suffering from osteoarticular infections out of 67 children with sickle cell disease who were hospitalised, representing a prevalence of 49.3%. The average age was 11.1 years, with a sex ratio of 2.3. The average time to consultation was 10.7 days. Of our patients, 75.8% were monitored regularly, while 24.2% were discovered during hospitalisation. The predominant locations were the lower limbs, particularly the tibia (48.5%), knee (24.2%), femur (18.2%) and hip (9.1%). The most common findings on standard X-rays were osteomyelitis (54.5%), osteoarthritis (33.3%) and osteitis (12.1%). A pathogen was identified in 48.5% of children. The pathogens found were: Staphylococcus aureus (50%) and Salmonella spp. (37.5%). Probabilistic antibiotic therapy combined ceftriaxone + gentamicin in all cases, adjusted subsequently. Medical and surgical treatment was performed in 48.5% of patients. The average length of hospitalisation was 32 days. No deaths were reported. Conclusion. In our setting, acute osteomyelitis is the most common IOA in children with sickle cell disease. S. aureus and Salmonella are the main pathogens. A standardised protocol of "early imaging + sampling + probabilistic active staphylococcus/salmonella" seems appropriate.
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References
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- 24. Simon AL, Montanari L, Mallet C, et al. Orthopedic complications of SCD in children. Orthop Traumatol Surg Res. 2025:104416. doi:10.1016/j.otsr.2025.104416
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- 26. Koffi JFK, Botti RP, Ayemou R, et al. Morbidity and mortality of SCD in Côte d’Ivoire. Ann Hematol. 2025;—. doi:10.1007/s00277-025-06512-w
- 27. Houzou P, Oniankitan O, Fianyo E, et al. Osteonecrosis in SSA cohorts. Egypt Rheumatol. 2018;40(2):—. doi:10.1016/j.ejr.2017.12.004
- 28. Mupenda RM, Nakashenyi AN, Nteranya DS, et al. Osteoarticular Complications of SCD in Bukavu: A Retrospective Multicenter Cross-Sectional Study. Health Sci Rep. 2025;8(5):e70861. doi:10.1002/hsr2.70861
- 29. Inusa BPD, Oyewo A, Brokke F, et al. Practical issues in SCD bone infection pathways. PLoS One. 2013;8(6):e65001. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0065001
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References
1. Piel FB, Hay SI, Gupta S, et al. Global burden of sickle cell disease in children under five. PLoS Med. 2013;10(7):e1001484. doi:10.1371/journal.pmed.1001484
2. Adewoyin AS. Management of sickle cell disease in Nigeria: challenges and prospects. Anemia. 2015;2015:791498. doi:10.1155/2015/791498
3. Berger E, Saunders N, Wang L, et al. Sickle cell disease in children: differentiating osteomyelitis from vaso-occlusive crisis. Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med. 2009;163(3):251-255. doi:10.1001/archpediatrics.2008.565
4. Fontalis A, Hughes K, Nguyen MP, et al. Osteomyelitis vs VOC in paediatric SCD: 15-year review. Bone Joint Res. 2019;8(6):273-279. doi:10.1302/2046-3758.86.BJR-2018-0332.R2
5. Tashkandi DA, Hanafy E, Alotaibi N, et al. Indicators for osteomyelitis in children with sickle cell disease. Cureus. 2024;16(8):e68265. doi:10.7759/cureus.68265
6. Ebong WW. Acute osteomyelitis in Nigerians with sickle cell disease. Arch Dis Child. 1980;55:175-184. doi:10.1136/adc.55.3.175
7. Burnett MW, Bass JW, Cook BA. Etiology of osteomyelitis complicating sickle cell disease. Pediatrics. 1998;101(2):296-297. doi:10.1542/peds.101.2.296
8. Boroujeni BM, et al. Salmonella infections in sickle cell disease: a mini-review. Infect Disord Drug Targets. 2021;21(6). doi:10.2174/1871526521666210301110535
9. Alima-Yanda AN, Nansseu JRN, Mbassi Awa HD, et al. Spectrum of bacterial infections in children with SCD in Cameroon. BMC Infect Dis. 2017;17:517. doi:10.1186/s12879-017-2317-9
10. Inusa BPD, Oyewo A, Brokke F, et al. Ultrasound to distinguish osteomyelitis from bone infarction in SCD. PLoS One. 2013;8(6):e65001. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0065001
11. Pääkkönen M, Pelkonen T, Joaquim G, et al. Paediatric bone and joint infection—diagnosis and imaging. Osteology. 2021;1(2):80-85. doi:10.3390/osteology1020008
12. Mary P, et al. Complications ostéo-articulaires de la drépanocytose. Arch Pediatr. 2012;19(9):948-955. doi:10.1016/j.arcped.2012.06.019
13. Al Farii H, Zhou S, Albers A. Contemporary management of osteomyelitis in SCD. JAAOS Glob Res Rev. 2020;4(9):e20.00022. doi:10.5435/JAAOSGlobal-D-20-00022
14. Sinkin JC, Wood BC, Sauerhammer TM, et al. Salmonella osteomyelitis of the hand in an infant with SCD. Case Rep Pediatr. 2015;2015:824862. doi:10.1155/2015/824862
15. Délicat-Loembet LM, Baraïka MA, Bougoudogo F, et al. Bacterial infections in the SCD population. Microorganisms. 2023;11(4):859. doi:10.3390/microorganisms11040859
16. Banza MI, et al. IOA et drépanocytose à Lubumbashi (RDC). Pan Afr Med J. 2021;38:77. doi:10.11604/pamj.2021.38.77.21484
17. Yaokreh JB, Koffi KS, Yao Atteby JJ, et al. IOA hématogènes chez l’enfant drépanocytaire, Abidjan. Afr J Paediatr Surg. 2021;18:79-84. doi:10.4103/ajps.AJPS_114_20
18. Mouba JF, Moussavou Abaga R, Eloundou P, et al. Nécrose aseptique de hanche chez l’enfant drépanocytaire (Libreville). Santé. 2011;21(2):89-92. doi:10.1684/san.2011.0244
19. Egesa WI, Nakalema G, Waibi WM, et al. SCD in children/adolescents in SSA: review. Anemia. 2022;2022:3885979. doi:10.1155/2022/3885979
20. Adesina O, Brunson A, Ma X, et al. Avascular necrosis of the femoral head in SCD. Blood Adv. 2017;1(16):1287-1296. doi:10.1182/bloodadvances.2017006583
21. Oppong-Mensah YG, Odoom SF, Paintsil V, et al. Hospitalizations among SCD children in Ghana. BMC Pediatr. 2023;23:—. doi:10.1186/s12887-023-04371-5
22. Chinawa JM, Chukwu BF, Ikefuna AN, et al. Musculoskeletal complications in Nigerian SCA children. Niger J Clin Pract. 2013;16(3):349-354. doi:10.4103/1119-3077.1134602
23. Tambo FFM, Mbongo JA, Bongo GN, et al. Osteomyélite drépanocytaire en Afrique: revue. Santé. 2010;20(4):221-224. doi:10.1684/san.2010.0212
24. Simon AL, Montanari L, Mallet C, et al. Orthopedic complications of SCD in children. Orthop Traumatol Surg Res. 2025:104416. doi:10.1016/j.otsr.2025.104416
25. Peltola H, Pääkkönen M, Kallio P, et al. Diagnostic imaging of paediatric bone & joint infection. (voir ref. 11 pour synthèse)
26. Koffi JFK, Botti RP, Ayemou R, et al. Morbidity and mortality of SCD in Côte d’Ivoire. Ann Hematol. 2025;—. doi:10.1007/s00277-025-06512-w
27. Houzou P, Oniankitan O, Fianyo E, et al. Osteonecrosis in SSA cohorts. Egypt Rheumatol. 2018;40(2):—. doi:10.1016/j.ejr.2017.12.004
28. Mupenda RM, Nakashenyi AN, Nteranya DS, et al. Osteoarticular Complications of SCD in Bukavu: A Retrospective Multicenter Cross-Sectional Study. Health Sci Rep. 2025;8(5):e70861. doi:10.1002/hsr2.70861
29. Inusa BPD, Oyewo A, Brokke F, et al. Practical issues in SCD bone infection pathways. PLoS One. 2013;8(6):e65001. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0065001
30. Al Farii H, Zhou S, Albers A. Algorithmic management for SCD osteomyelitis. JAAOS Glob Res Rev. 2020;4(9):e20.00022. doi:10.5435/JAAOSGlobal-D-20-00022
31. Adigwe OP. Public health impact of SCD in Nigeria. Int J Gen Med. 2023;16:4547-4561. doi:10.2147/IJGM.S410015
