title: Septic arthritis of the knee associated with calf abscess.
abstract: Septic arthritis associated with extra-articular abscess is rare. We report on 2 non-rheumatic patients with septic arthritis of the knee associated with calf abscess. Magnetic resonance imaging showed a distinct leakage pathway from the knee joint in each patient. One was a ruptured popliteal cyst (posteromedial). Another was a pathologic popliteus hiatus (posterolateral). These patients underwent open drainage of the calf abscess via a small incision, followed by arthroscopic debridement of the knee. Careful palpation of the lower leg, followed by magnetic resonance imaging and needle aspiration, is important to exclude a possible extra-articular abscess regardless of the presence of a popliteal cyst.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Kochi University, Oko-cho Kohasu, Nankoku, Japan.
authors.forename: Masashi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Izumi
authors.forename: Masahiko
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ikeuchi
authors.forename: Toshikazu
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Tani
mesh_terms: D000038:Abscess / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy; D000368:Aged; D001170:Arthritis, Infectious / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D007719:Knee Joint; D007866:Leg; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged