Brodie's abscess as a late complication of external fixation of the distal radius: A case report

Case: A 41-year-old male presented with an insidious onset of pain and swelling about the dorsal wrist, and was found to have a Brodie's abscess in the distal radius. The patient had a history of a distal radius fracture, treated with external fixation, nineteen years prior, which we believe contributed to the infection. The patient was treated surgically with abscess irrigation, debridement, bony curettage, bioactive glass S53P4 allograft, with concurrent antibiotic therapy. Conclusion: Brodie's abscesses can have atypical presentations, and a thorough history must be obtained from patients to identify any potential sources of infection.