Percutaneous aspiration irrigation drainage technique in the management of septic arthritis in children

Septic arthritis in childhood is a therapeutic emergency. The authors present their experience using an intermediate technique with the advantages of the percutaneous aspiration irrigation drainage: joint aspiration, irrigation, and declivious drainage.

All children were treated by joint aspiration under fluoroscopic control, large volume irrigation, and declivious nonsuction drainage associated with immobilization and intravenous antibiotics during 8 days to 10 days. The draining system was removed when clinical improvement (namely apyrexia) and the decrease of biological inflammatory response were obtained. A late follow-up phone interview was made for each patient. Fifty-two patients were included in this study, with a mean age of 4.3 years. The most common sites of arthritis were the hip (19 of 52, 36%) and the knee (17 of 52, 32%), but ankle (8 of 52, 15%), shoulder (12%), and elbow (3%) were also involved.

Apyrexia was obtained after a mean period of 2 days. The mean draining duration was 4.5 days. On the last follow-up visit (at 21 months on average; range, 12-56 months), all patients except one were totally painless and had no limitation of physical activity.

Percutaneous aspiration irrigation drainage assured very good results in this study population, with rapid clinical and biological improvement and the absence of long-term sequelae. The advantages of this technique include permanent joint access and control of synovial effusions, with only one general anesthesia and minimal iatrogenic morbidity.