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Acute septic arthritis of the hip in children

C E Chen1, J Y Ko, C C Li

  • 1Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Kaohsiung Medical Center, Taiwan, ROC.

Archives of Orthopaedic and Trauma Surgery
|October 16, 2001
PubMed

Insights

Early diagnosis and treatment of acute septic arthritis in children, particularly Staphylococcus aureus infections, lead to good outcomes. Delays exceeding five days and proximal femur osteomyelitis are linked to poor results.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Orthopedics
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Clinical Medicine

Background:

  • Acute septic arthritis of the hip is a significant orthopedic emergency in children.
  • Prompt diagnosis and treatment are crucial to prevent long-term joint damage.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate treatment outcomes for acute septic arthritis of the hip in pediatric patients.
  • To identify factors influencing treatment success and complications.

Main Methods:

  • Retrospective review of 33 pediatric hip septic arthritis cases treated between 1986 and 1997.
  • Analysis of clinical data, microbiological findings, treatment protocols, and patient outcomes over an average 6-year follow-up.

Main Results:

  • Staphylococcus aureus was the most common pathogen (44%), often affecting children over one year old.
  • Overall, 89% of patients achieved satisfactory outcomes with early diagnosis and treatment.
  • Factors associated with poor outcomes included treatment delay >5 days and proximal femur osteomyelitis.

Conclusions:

  • Early diagnosis and appropriate medical/surgical management, including arthrocentesis and antibiotics, yield favorable outcomes in pediatric septic hip arthritis.
  • Delaying treatment and the presence of osteomyelitis are critical indicators for poorer prognosis.

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