title: Septic arthritis of the knee in adults: treatment by arthroscopy or arthrotomy.
abstract: Fifty-one patients with septic arthritis of the knee were reviewed retrospectively. Twenty-seven patients had been treated by arthroscopic lavage and debridement, 24 patients by open arthrotomy with subtotal synovectomy. The patients were staged according to the duration of preoperative symptoms and to the intraoperative spread of the inflammatory process. With early onset of therapy (less than 5 days) and without osseous involvement arthroscopic treatment led to an effective resolution of infection with better functional results than open arthrotomy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of Technology Aachen, Pauwelsstr. 30, 52074 Aachen, Germany. dcwirtz@post.klinikum.rwth-aachen.de
authors.forename: D C
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: Wirtz
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Marth
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Miltner
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Schneider
authors.forename: K W
authors.initials: KW
authors.lastname: Zilkens
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage; D001170:Arthritis, Infectious / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000601:surgery*; D001178:Arthroplasty / Q000379:methods*; D001182:Arthroscopy / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007719:Knee Joint / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular; D020127:Recovery of Function; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013203:Staphylococcal Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000601:surgery*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents