Imaging update on musculoskeletal infections.

The clinical diagnosis of musculoskeletal infections can be challenging due to non-specific signs and symptoms on presentation. These infections include infectious myositis, necrotising fasciitis, septic arthritis, septic bursitis, suppurative tenosynovitis, osteomyelitis, spondylodiscitis and periprosthetic infections. Diagnostic imaging is routinely employed as part of the investigative pathway to characterise the underlying infectious disease pattern, allowing expedited and customised patient management plans to optimise outcomes. This article provides an update on the various imaging modalities comprising of radiography, computed tomography, ultrasonography, magnetic resonance imaging and radionuclide procedures, and incorporates representative images of key findings in the different forms of musculoskeletal infections.