Osteomyelitis of the Maxilla Secondary to Periorbital Cellulitis in a Neonate: A Case Report Osteomyelitis

Abstract

Osteomyelitis is an infection of bone tissue and bone marrow, primarily caused by bacteria, which may spread through three main routes: hematogenous dissemination, contiguous spread, or direct inoculation. In the neonatal period, it represents a rare but severe condition with the potential to cause permanent osteoarticular sequelae. During this stage of life, osteomyelitis exhibits etiopathogenic and histological features that differ from those observed in other age groups. Involvement of the facial skeleton is uncommon and is usually secondary to contiguous soft tissue infections of the face.

We report the case of a 20-day-old female neonate who developed osteomyelitis of the maxilla secondary to facial and periorbital cellulitis, with Staphylococcus aureus isolated from blood cultures and ocular discharge. The patient was treated with broad-spectrum antibiotic therapy and conservative surgical management, showing favorable clinical evolution and currently remaining under outpatient follow-up