A Rare Case of Carpal Osteomyelitis in a Spinal Cord Injury Patient: A Case Report

This case report describes a rare instance of carpal osteomyelitis, a bone infection in the wrist, in a patient with a spinal cord injury (SCI). SCI patients are more prone to infections, but osteomyelitis in the wrist is uncommon, especially without trauma. The patient, a 62-year-old male with a history of SCI and IV drug abuse, experienced wrist pain and decreased mobility. Initial X-rays were unremarkable, but an MRI revealed bone edema, leading to a biopsy that confirmed MRSA osteomyelitis. The patient was treated with antibiotics and showed improvement, regaining functional independence. This case highlights the importance of considering osteomyelitis in SCI patients with wrist pain, even without typical symptoms or initial findings.

• 1
  Carpal osteomyelitis is rare in SCI patients and can be challenging to diagnose due to nonspecific symptoms and lab markers.
• 2
  MRI is a useful tool for detecting osteomyelitis when clinical suspicion is high, although bone biopsy remains the gold standard for diagnosis.
• 3
  Prolonged antibiotic treatment can be an effective alternative to surgery for carpal osteomyelitis in SCI patients, especially when hand function is critical.