%0 Consensus Development Conference
%T Consensus in diagnostic definitions for bone or joint infections in children by a Delphi method with European French-speaking experts.
%A Mitha A
%A Boulyana M
%A Hue V
%A Pruvost I
%A Martinot A
%A  
%A Dubos F
%J Acta Paediatr
%V 101
%N 8
%D Aug 2012
%M 22578155
%F 4.056
%R 10.1111/j.1651-2227.2012.02716.x
%X <B>OBJECTIVE: </B>Various diagnostic criteria have been proposed for bone or joint infection. This study used a Delphi process to determine the consensual definitions for arthritis, osteomyelitis and bone or joint infections in general in children.<BR><B>METHODS: </B>A group of European French-speaking experts participated in an email Delphi process. Definitions were identified during a systematic search of the PubMed database. Five definitions of arthritis, eight for osteomyelitis and five for bone or joint infections in general were included in a three-round process. We sought two sorts of definitions: definitions for 'definitive' diagnoses for epidemiological studies and definitions for 'probable' diagnoses for clinical or therapeutic studies, considering enlarged criteria.<BR><B>RESULTS: </B>Ten experts were involved in the Delphi process. A consensus was reached for a definitive diagnosis of arthritis, osteomyelitis and bone or joint infections in general. A consensus was also reached for a probable diagnosis of bone or joint infections in general.<BR><B>CONCLUSIONS: </B>This Delphi process made consensus definitions and criteria available for bone or joint infections that could improve the comparability of both epidemiological and clinical studies. This is a first step to standardise diagnostic criteria and distinguish definitive and probable bone or joint infections in children.