title: Recovery of femoral head perfusion after drainage of septic joint.
abstract: A 64-year-old woman was febrile and had pain near the right hip. Blood cultures grew beta hemolytic streptococci. A bone scan showed reduced activity in the right femoral head and neck compared with the left femoral head and neck. She was treated with intravenous antibiotics and surgical decompression of a tense and bulging right hip joint. Five days later, a repeat bone scan revealed much of the femoral head activity to have returned. By day 20 after the initial bone image, there was intense activity throughout the femoral head and neck. Prompt relief of a distended hip joint can result in reperfusion of the femoral head and neck.
authors.affiliation: Section of Clinical Nuclear Medicine, Hartford, Hospital, Connecticut.
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Mack
authors.forename: J J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Sziklas
authors.forename: R J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Rosenberg
authors.forename: R P
authors.initials: RP
authors.lastname: Spencer
mesh_terms: D001170:Arthritis, Infectious / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D004322:Drainage; D005260:Female; D005270:Femur Head / Q000098:blood supply*; D005271:Femur Head Necrosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D011877:Radionuclide Imaging; D013290:Streptococcal Infections / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D013292:Streptococcus agalactiae