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Published on: March 2, 2020

Psoas abscess with associated septic arthritis of the hip in infants

Enbo Wang1, Lili Ma, Eric W Edmonds

  • 1Department of Pediatric Orthopaedics, Shengjing Hospital, China Medical University, Shenyang, 110004, China.

Journal of Pediatric Surgery
|December 7, 2010
PubMed

Insights

Concurrent psoas abscess and septic hip arthritis in infants are rare. Early diagnosis and treatment are crucial to prevent long-term hip deformity, with MRI aiding identification.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Infectious Diseases
  • Pediatric Orthopedics
  • Medical Imaging

Background:

  • Psoas abscess and septic hip arthritis are serious infections in infants.
  • Concurrent presentation is exceptionally rare, particularly in early infancy.
  • Delayed diagnosis can lead to severe complications and long-term sequelae.

Observation:

  • Two cases of concurrent psoas abscess and septic hip arthritis in infants aged 3 and 7 months are presented.
  • Common clinical signs included inguinal mass, irritable hip, and delayed treatment.
  • One infant experienced a delayed diagnosis of septic hip arthritis.

Findings:

  • Both infants developed residual hip deformity following treatment.
  • The concurrent pathology is hypothesized to result from infectious spread due to delayed diagnosis.
  • This study reports the first known cases of this dual infection in infancy.

Implications:

  • Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is a valuable tool for diagnosing these concurrent conditions.
  • Prompt recognition and management are essential to improve outcomes in infants.
  • Understanding the proposed etiologic mechanism may guide future diagnostic and therapeutic strategies.

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