title: Septic Arthritis of the Hip in Children.
abstract: Recent advances in the management of septic arthritis of the hip in children include a better understanding of the effects of infection on articular cartilage; improvements in diagnostic tests, including erythrocyte sedimentation rate, C-reactive protein analysis, and ultrasonography; and more efficacious home intravenous and oral antibiotic therapy. Early diagnosis is essential to successful treatment. Needle aspiration is the most specific diagnostic test; however, false-negative results are possible. Prompt surgical drainage and postoperative antibiotic therapy until signs of infection resolve are necessary to prevent late sequelae. Surgical treatment of limb-length inequality is more useful than attempts to salvage the destroyed or incongruent joint.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, State University of New York at Buffalo School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences.
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Sucato
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Schwend
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Gillespie