Mal de Meleda is an autosomal recessively inherited, special type of palmoplantar keratoderma. In this case, we present a Mal de Meleda patient who had an osteomyelitis which was thought to be a complication of the disease. Twelve-year-old girl was brought to our out-patient clinics with the complaint of hyperemia and swelling in her left elbow. In her physical examination; there was an edema, increased local heat, hyperemia and motion tenderness in elbow and proximal forearm. In both palmar and plantar areas, there was a diffuse yellowish-white hyperkeratosis, maceration, patchy fissures and red eroded areas. Deep aspiration to the elbow revealed purulent material and patient was treated surgically with the diagnosis of subacute osteomyelitis. Thick and commonly macerated keratin layer due to hyperhydrosis is a suitable place for dermatophytic infections in Mal de Meleda. However, secondary bacterial infections are not reported. In our case, we considered the lesions, fissures and eroded skin, is a gate for bacterial inoculation to the deep tissue resulting with osteomyelitis.

Mal de Meleda Osteomyelitis Complication