Acute sepsis complicating degenerative arthritis of the hip joint: a report of three cases

This case report involves three patients in whom hip sepsis occurred in association with degenerative joint disease, in the absence of any risk factors for infection. The diagnosis had been missed on initial evaluation, and each patient had been referred to the authors' adult reconstructive service to have the arthritic hip replaced. In each instance, existing hip pain had worsened acutely. Further workup led to the correct diagnosis and appropriate treatment of the septic joint. These cases illustrate the value of differential diagnosis when treating patients with degenerative hip disease.