Septic arthritis in the childhood

35 patients with the provisional diagnosis of septic arthritis have were admitted the 2nd Orthopaedic Clinic of ministry of health Ankara Hospital. 21 patients were male and 14 were female with an average age of 9.1 years (range 5 mo-15 yrs.). Septic arthritis was considered in the hips of 19 patients, in the knees of 12, on the shoulders of 3 and on the elbow of 1. All of the patients were operated on an emergency basis with drainage of puss and application of washout drainage. Wide spectrum antibiotics were administered postoperatively (3 week parenterally, 3 week orally). At the time of admission 94.2% of patients had high sedimantation rate, 60.0% of patients had high leucocyte count. Cultures revealed Staph. aureus in 24 cases, gram (-) bacteria in 6 (Enterobacter cloaca, E. coli, Coliform basil) and no growth in 5 cases. In patient with hip septic arthritis we have observed three femoral head destructions and one septic dislocation. In patients with three septic arthritis of the knee, we postoperatively have found !WO femoral osteomyelitis. As a result, it was seen that delay in the drainage of joints with septic arthritis caused many complications, early intervention has resulted with 90% success.