Bone and joint infections are common in children. These are diagnostic and therapeutic emergencies because of the septic and functional risks, especially during the first months of life. The frequent negativity of the samples justifies the use of medical imaging.

The general objective of our study was to determine the contribution of radiography and ultrasound in their management and the specific objectives to describe their epidemiological, clinical and biological aspects and to compare them with radiological aspects.

An observational, retrospective, cross-sectional, descriptive and analytical study over 3 years involved 150 children from the Albert ROYER Childrens University Hospital Center in Dakar, Senegal. Chi-Deu Pearson and Fischer tests were used for statistical analysis.

Septic arthritis accounted for 44%, acute osteomyelitis 18.7%, chronic osteomyelitis 11.3%, subacute osteomyelitis 2% and osteoarthritis 24%. Older male children were the most affected. The average consultation time was 13.65 days. The main signs were pain (97.3%), impotence (83.3%) and fever (72.7%). 13.3% of patients had sickle cell disease and 36% reported initial trauma. The front door was rated at 21.3%.

The standard radiograph, 73.4% pathological, showed early signs of the soft tissues and late bony signs. Ultrasound, 97.5% pathological, had guided the puncture. Bacteriological examination implicated staphylococcus in 65.2% of patients.

Septic arthritis was present at all ages. Osteoarthritis was more common in neonates. Osteomyelitis was seen especially in infants and older children. The predominant locations in the lower limb (89%) were “near the knee” but “far from the elbow” in the upper limb.

There were statistically significant associations between the bone sequestrum, the cutaneous portal of entry and the sickle cell site; between the fistulous path, the cutaneous portal of entry and the staphylococcus; between sickle cell disease and the absence of periosteal apposition.

These results confirmed the importance of radiography and ultrasound in the management of bone and joint infections in children.