The purpose of our study is to evaluate the diagnostic significance of clinical findings, WBC count, ESR, CRP, simple X-ray, ultrasonography and bone sanning in neonates.

From January 1995 to May 1998, we have experienced 14 cases of pyogenic osteomyelitis and pyogenic arthritis in neonates. The mean age of patients was 16.7 days and the involved sites were 6 cases of pyogenic arhtritis of hip, 5 cases of pyogenic arthritis of hip with proximal femur osteomyelitis, 2 cases of pyogenic arthritis of shoulder with proximal humerus osteomyelitis and 1 case of proximal tibia osteomyelitis.

The most frequent clinical signs were local swelling and pseudoparalysis of involved extremity. Laboratory findings showed that elevated ESR was in 11/14 (79%), positive CRP in 6/8 (75%), leukocytosis in 6/14 cases (43%). Abnomal findings in simple X-ray was in 7/13 (54%), positive bone scanning findings in 3/8 (37.5%), positive ultrasonographic findings in 11/11 cases (100%).

ITherefore we concluded that careful physical examination and ultrasonography were important for early diagnosis of bone or joint infection in neonates