Infection and miscellaneous

Musculoskeletal infections contribute significantly to the disease burden in elderly people. The diagnosis of infection in the older adult can be made more difficult by atypical or subtle presentations; however, early diagnosis and prompt treatment are vital to maximizing the probability of a positive outcome. Many specific infections are more common in diabetic patients, and some occur almost exclusively in them. In this chapter, we provide a review regarding the epidemiology, pathogenesis and imaging findings of spinal epidural infections, peripheral osteomyelitis, and septic arthritis in elderly patients with an emphasis on magnetic resonance (MR) imaging, which has greatly contributed to early diagnosis, thus allowing implementation of timely appropriate treatment. The role of imaging in distinguishing neuropathic osteoarthropathy and osteomyelitis in diabetic foot is also discussed in detail.