The pathology of neonatal osteomyelitis.

The examination of multiple bones from a child who died of complications of septicemia and osteomyelitis elucidated the pathologic processes of infantile osteomyelitis. From a metaphyseal focus, there is spread in several directions. Most important, the infection can spread across the growth plate, along transphyseal vessels, to penetrate the epiphysis. Areas of direct destruction of growth plate were frequent findings, and allowed another route into the epiphysis.