Who’s Brodie? Brodie abscess

Case presentation

A 14-month-old previously healthy male presents with limping for the past 5 days. Prior to this symptom, he had cough, congestion, and subjective fever, which his primary care provider had diagnosed as a viral upper respiratory infection. He appeared to be improving when he developed a left-sided limp, which appeared at times to be painful, although over-the-counter ibuprofen seemed to help with pain.

On examination, he is afebrile and has age-appropriate vital signs. Physical examination is unremarkable other than a painful gait when he attempts to ambulate. He had no tenderness in his knee or his hip, and he had a full range of motion on examination.

Imaging considerations