Acute Purulent Arthritis in Children

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
Children (25) with acute purulent arthritis (APA) seen in 1960-1979 were analyzed with regard to clinical problems of diagnosis and treatment. The sex ratio of boys to girls was 2.5:1. The knee joint was most commonly affected (76% of the cases). The other joints affected were the hip (16%), ankle (4%) and elbow (4%). Of the patients, 56% were 1-2 yr old at the onset of the disease. A bacterial etiology was established in 44% of the cases, a positive culture in 36%. Staphylococcus aureus, Haemophilus influenzae, streptococci and pneumococci were isolated. All but 2 patients received antimicrobial therapy; the duration of therapy averaged 35 days. Seven patients were treated operatively. The usual procedure was arthrotomy, closed irrigation was performed in 2 cases only. The end result was good in all cases; there were no fatalities.