title: Complicated septic arthritis after knee arthroscopy in a 75-year-old man with osteoarthritis and a popliteal cyst.
abstract: A 75-year-old man presented in shock secondary to septic arthritis of the knee. The patient, with a known history of knee osteoarthritis, was treated elsewhere for mechanical locking symptoms and effusion with arthroscopic debridement, and developed septic arthritis, which disseminated to the leg and foot after a tear in the capsule, and a ruptured pyogenic popliteal cyst. Open debridement of the knee joint, and drainage of the abscesses of the leg and foot, were performed. Antibiotic-loaded cement beads were left in the residual space. Debridement was repeated and cement beads removed after 4 days, and finally the infection was eradicated without any serious consequences for the patient. There is debate over arthroscopic intervention for osteoarthritic knees. The presence of a popliteal cyst, which is a rather common finding in the latter, could be related to a significant number of complications, such as septic arthritis.
authors: Department of Orthopedic Surgery and Musculoskeletal Trauma, Faculty of Medicine, University of Thessalia, Larissa, Greece.
authors: Antonios
authors: A
authors: Papadopoulos
authors: Department of Orthopedic Surgery and Musculoskeletal Trauma, Faculty of Medicine, University of Thessalia, Larissa, Greece.
authors: Theofilos S
authors: TS
authors: Karachalios
authors: Department of Orthopedic Surgery and Musculoskeletal Trauma, Faculty of Medicine, University of Thessalia, Larissa, Greece.
authors: Constantinos N
authors: CN
authors: Malizos
authors: Department of Orthopedic Surgery and Musculoskeletal Trauma, Faculty of Medicine, University of Thessalia, Larissa, Greece.
authors: Sokratis
authors: S
authors: Varitimidis
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001170:Arthritis, Infectious / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*; D001182:Arthroscopy / Q000009:adverse effects*; D003646:Debridement / Q000009:adverse effects; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D020370:Osteoarthritis, Knee / Q000150:complications* / Q000601:surgery*; D011151:Popliteal Cyst / Q000150:complications* / Q000601:surgery*; D012772:Shock, Septic / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology; D034363:Viridans Streptococci / Q000302:isolation & purification
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents