Spontaneous patella fracture presenting as osteomyelitis in focal dermal hypoplasia

We report the first case of the assessment and treatment of a spontaneous patellar fracture in a patient with Goltz syndrome-a rare dermal hypoplasia. This case illustrates the non-straightforward presentation of a spontaneous patellar fracture in seemingly osteoporotic bone stock further complicated by the inability to rule out osteomyelitis. In this confusing presentation, a high index of suspicion for patella fracture should be maintained for patients with knee pain and osteoporosis on x-ray with a dysplastic syndrome. (C) 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.