Septic arthritis in children

Abstract

Ninety three patients with septic arthritis involving 104 joints with a mean age of 4.5 years +/- SD (range 2 months to 15 years) were studied. The most commonly involved joint was the hip (48.4%) though the shoulder was the most commonly affected joint in infancy (36%). Trauma (a history of fall and intramuscular injection) was associated in 28% of the cases. Staphylococcus aureus was the predominant aetiologic bacterial agent (50%) even in patients with sickle cell disease. Anaemia was a common complication (64.5%). The overall result of treatment was unsatisfactory as only 37.7% had complete resolution while most had varying degrees of joint destruction resulting in limb length discrepancy and ankylosis.