Treatment of septic arthritis

Abstract

Surgery and needle aspiraton have been evaluated as initial modes of drainage in 59 patients with acute septic arthritis. Full recovery was noted in 42% treated surgically at the outset. On the other hand, 67% of those treated by needle aspiration recovered without sequelae, despite the greater prevalence in this group of adverse host factor-eg, serious underlying illness, concommitant extraarticular infection, prior arthritis in the infected joint, and recent antibiotic or immunosuppressive therapy.