Chronic sclerosing osteomyelitis of the clavicle. A manifestation of chronic recurrent multifocal osteomyelitis.

The cases of five children/adolescents and two young adults with unilateral chronic osteomyelitis of the clavicle are reported. The clinical course was prolonged and characterized by intermittent periods of exacerbation followed by improvement. Extensive investigations revealed no causative organisms and the disease seemed resistant to antibiotic therapy. The only laboratory abnormality was elevated ESR, present in five cases. Osteomyelitis of other bones was detected in four cases and pustulosis palmoplantaris in two, suggesting that the disease is a manifestation of chronic recurrent multifocal osteomyelitis.