title: Acute septic arthritis of the hip in children.
abstract: Thirty-three cases of acute septic arthritis of the hip in children were treated at our hospital from 1986 to 1997. The average follow-up period was 6 years (range 2-11 years). In 17 cases the right hip was affected, and in 16 the left hip. The average duration of symptoms was 5 days (range 1-14 days). Microorganisms were isolated from the blood, joint aspirate, or surgical specimens in 25 cases (76%). Staphylococcus aureus was the most common bacteria found (44%). Those patients with S. aureus infection were older than 1 year of age. There was no significant difference in the final outcome between the younger and the older age groups. Twenty-six out of 33 patients (89%) had a satisfactory outcome. Satisfactory results can also be expected with arthrocentesis and medical treatment if the diagnosis is made early, and antibiotic treatment affords a good clinical response. Four out of 7 cases with an unsatisfactory result were associated with osteomyelitis of the proximal femur. The two most important factors associated with poor results included a delay of definite treatment lasting longer than 5 days and the presence of osteomyelitis of the proximal femur.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Kaohsiung Medical Center, Taiwan, ROC.
authors.forename: C E
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: J Y
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Ko
authors.forename: C C
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: C J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Wang
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000293:Adolescent; D017677:Age Distribution; D001170:Arthritis, Infectious / Q000382:microbiology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006621:Hip Joint; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D011379:Prognosis; D012189:Retrospective Studies