Abstract
Aims: Although the septic arthritis in children and adolescents is rarely the purulent coxitis occurs more often than in other joints. There is a high risk of destruction of the cartilage due to late diagnosis or inadaequate therapy. The arthroscopy of the hip joint gains in importance even in children. Methods: From 6/96 until 1/2001 we treated 14 children (4 month to 14 years old) with coxitis by arthroscopy of the hip joint. The follow up includes clinical outcome and results of blood tests (CRP and leucozytes). Results: All children represented clinical signs of an infection and showed increased infection parameters. There was seen an intraarticular effusion by ultrasound examination. We did arthoscopic debridement 1–2 times in all patients followed by an antibiotic treatment. The early mobilisation with fully weight bearing was allowed dependent on complaints. There was a painfree mobility, free range of motion and normal blood tests after 3–4 weeks in all patients. No complication, respectively no lesions of nerves and vessels and no iatrogen infection were seen. Conclusions: If the indication for arthroscopic treatment is correct, the arthroscopic lavage in septic coxitis shows a shorter time of immobilisation, a lower complication rate and a less morbidity in comparison to open revision of the joint. It is a low risk operation and less traumatic for children and parents.
Theses abstracts were prepared by Professor Dr. Frantz Langlais. Correspondence should be addressed to him at EFORT Central Office, Freihofstrasse 22, CH-8700 Küsnacht, Switzerland.
