Outcome of acute septic dislocation of hip in children reduced at arthrotomy

Pathological dislocation of hip following episode of septic arthritis is a long recognized complication. We determined clinicoradiological outcome in 14 children presenting with acute septic dislocation of hip and reduced at the time of emergency arthrotomy and drainage.

The retrospective study was conducted at a tertiary care health centre located at suburb of a low income country. The study involved a 10 years chart review of children with confirmed septic arthritis of hip presenting with complication of acute joint dislocation and treated with open reduction at the time of arthrotomy and surgical drainage. All included patients were provided postoperative abduction splintage for minimum 3 months. The clinical evaluation at final follow up was done using modified Moon's criteria for outcome assessment. The radiological outcome was analyzed in terms of containment (Severin class), sequelae (Choi radiological types) and effect on acetabular development (acetabular index, AI). The AI on normal and reduced sides was compared statistically.

Average patient age at the time of presentation was 7.2 months and follow up available was 32 months (range, 12-70 months). Functionally, 5 had excellent and 6 had good outcomes at the final follow up. Two patients had fair whereas 1 had poor outcome. Seven hips were Severin class II, 4 class III and 2 class IV and 1 was class VI. One patient had Choi type IA, 3 type IB, 8 type IIA, 1 type IIB and only 1 had type IVA at follow up. The mean AI of reduced hip was 23.4° and was significantly higher than that of unaffected side (mean 15.7°).

The complication of acute septic dislocation of hip in children may not have a sinister prognosis as commonly believed. These hips however were associated with significant acetabular dysplasia in the follow up period.