L.A.B. Copley replies:
During our study period, from January 1, 2002, through December 31, 2004, we reported thirteen cases of deep venous thrombosis associated with musculoskeletal infection in children. Eleven of these cases occurred in children with osteomyelitis. After the publication of our article in The Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery, we became aware of the article by Crary et al. in The Journal of Pediatrics, which reported ten cases of deep venous thrombosis associated with osteomyelitis from the same institution (University of Texas Southwestern—Children's Medical Center Dallas). After comparing the two articles, we concluded that eight of the children were described in both papers. Our report, therefore, includes eight children who were previously reported on in the literature by Crary et al. as well as five additional children with deep venous thrombosis (three with osteomyelitis, one with septic arthritis, and one with pyomyositis) seen within a three-year period.
I apologize for any confusion that might have arisen as a result of these eight cases having been reported twice.
These letters originally appeared, in slightly different form, on . They are still available on the web site in conjunction with the article to which they refer.