Septic arthritis of the paediatric hip - A review of current diagnostic approaches and therapeutic concepts

Abstract

A misdiagnosed septic arthritis (SA) of the paediatric hip is a nightmare for many physicians. The authors tried to trace the most recent information about this problem. A Medline search, using PubMed interface, was focused on the period from 01.01.2002 to 31.08. 2012. A total of 53 papers were included in the study. They led to the following statement, among others, about the differential diagnosis between SA and transient synovitis: "CRP > 20 mg/L, non-weight-bearing, temperature > 38.5 °C and peripheral white blood cell count > 12 × 109 cells/L offers a predictive probability for septic arthritis of 87%". As soon as the clinical data point to septic arthritis, a diagnostic needle aspirati..