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Osteomyelitis — Differential Diagnosis — Clinical Pathway: Emergency and Inpatient

Osteomyelitis Clinical Pathway — Emergency Department and Inpatient

Differential Diagnosis

Category Differential Diagnosis
Infectious
  • Cellulitis or skin and soft tissue infection
  • Discitis
  • Pyomyositis or viral myositis
  • Septic Arthritis, Septic Arthritis Pathway
Intra-abdominal processes
  • Appendicitis
  • Psoas or other deep abdominal abscess
Oncologic
  • Leukemia
  • Primary bone tumors (Ewing sarcoma, osteosarcoma, etc.)
Reactive/Idiopathic
  • Legg-Calve-Perthes disease
  • Slipped capital femoral epiphysis
  • Toxic synovitis
Rheumatologic
  • Inflammatory myopathies
  • Juvenile idiopathic arthritis and other causes of inflammatory arthritides
  • Non-infectious osteomyelitis
Trauma
  • Fracture
  • Muscular injury
  • Sprain/strain/contusion
Vascular
  • Deep vein thrombosis
  • Thrombophlebitis

 

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