Acute scoliosis in a 3-year-old boy. (8th May 2012)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Malhotra, Rishi; Murali-Ganesh, Raghav; Dunkley, Colin; Desai, Vikram
• Is Part Of: BMJ case reports. Volume 2012
• Publication Date: 2012-05-08
• Subjects: Medicine -- Case studies -- Periodicals; 610.5
• DOI: 10.1136/bcr.01.2012.5594
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1757-790X

Abstract

Abstract : The case describes the presentation of a fit and well 3-year-old boy to the emergency department of a district general hospital after he developed an acute scoliosis overnight. There was no history of trauma, his observations were normal and he had non-specific symptoms of lethargy and reduced appetite, but no fevers or respiratory distress. Bloods showed raised inflammatory markers and he was referred to orthopaedics as a septic disc as there was some spinal tenderness. An urgent MRI was considered initially but on further examination there was some reduced air entry on the left lung base which a chest radiograph confirmed as a left-sided pneumonia. A diagnosis of pneumonia and secondary functional scoliosis was made. The child was admitted under paediatrics and made a full recovery on antibiotics. At 8 weeks follow-up there was resolution of scoliosis clinically and radiologically.