The Management of Septic Arthritis in Childhood

A prospective study of one hundred children with septic arthritis showed that the knee and hip were the joints most affected and that Staphylococcus aureus and Haemophilus influenzae Type B were the commonest bacteria grown. Our treatment, consisting of early arthrotomy and intravenous methicillin and ampicillin, followed by six weeks of joint immobilization and oral administration of cloxacillin and ampicillin, effectively reversed the inflammatory process and compared very favourably with other methods of treatment. Significant residual joint abnormalities, present in 7% of the children, resulted from severe joint damage occurring before treatment. To achieve the best results, this regime must be instituted before permanent joint damage has occurred. This will only be achieved if an early clinical diagnosis of septic arthritis is made.