Septic hip

Abstract

Joint sepsis is a surgical emergency in the pediatric population that must be diagnosed and treated in a timely fashion to avoid lifelong limb deformity and dysfunction. The child classically presents with fever, limping, inability to bear weight, and painful range of motion of the hip. A full history and physical exam, laboratory studies, and imaging studies are used to aid in the diagnosis. Treatment consists of urgent surgical drainage of the affected hip followed by administration of intravenous antibiotics. Complications of septic arthritis of the hip include chondrolysis, avascular necrosis, early physeal closure, leg length discrepancy, and destruction of the femoral head.