Septic arthritis in Western and sub-Saharan African children - a review

Septic arthritis in the pediatric hip joint: a systematic review of diagnosis, management, and outcomes

Septic arthritis of the pediatric hip joint (SAH) is a rare but serious orthopedic emergency requiring immediate diagnosis and management. Delayed recognition can lead to severe complications, emphasizing the need for timely intervention. This systematic review aims to provide a comprehensive analysis of SAH in the pediatric population, focusing on its diagnosis, management, and outcomes. The review included 11 studies involving 391 patients with SAH, aged between three months and 12 years. Staphylococcus aureus was identified as the most common causative pathogen, with increasing cases of methicillin-resistant strains. Diagnosis is challenging due to nonspecific clinical presentations, necessitating validated criteria and a multidisciplinary approach. Ultrasound emerged as a valuable tool for early detection, and MRI was used in challenging cases. Treatment options include hip aspiration, arthrotomy, and arthroscopy, often combined with appropriate antibiotic therapy. Success rates were comparable among different surgical procedures. Early intervention is vital for optimal outcomes. However, the review highlights the need for standardized protocols and further prospective studies to address limitations and improve understanding and management of SAH in the pediatric hip joint.

Routine Pediatric Surgical Emergencies: Incidence, Morbidity, and Mortality During the 1st 8000 Days of Life-A Narrative Review

BACKGROUND

Many potentially treatable non-congenital and non-traumatic surgical conditions can occur during the first 8000 days of life and an estimated 85% of children in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) will develop one before 15 years old. This review summarizes the common routine surgical emergencies in children from LMICs and their effects on morbidity and mortality.

METHODS

A narrative review was undertaken to assess the epidemiology, treatment, and outcomes of common surgical emergencies that present within the first 8000 days (or 21.9 years) of life in LMICs. Available data on pediatric surgical emergency care in LMICs were aggregated.

RESULTS

Outside of trauma, acute appendicitis, ileal perforation secondary to typhoid fever, and intestinal obstruction from intussusception and hernias continue to be the most common abdominal emergencies among children in LMICs. Musculoskeletal infections also contribute significantly to the surgical burden in children. These "neglected" conditions disproportionally affect children in LMICs and are due to delays in seeking care leading to late presentation and preventable complications. Pediatric surgical emergencies also necessitate heavy resource utilization in LMICs, where healthcare systems are already under strain.

CONCLUSIONS

Delays in care and resource limitations in LMIC healthcare systems are key contributors to the complicated and emergent presentation of pediatric surgical disease. Timely access to surgery can not only prevent long-term impairments but also preserve the impact of public health interventions and decrease costs in the overall healthcare system.

Clinical profiles and antimicrobial resistance patterns of invasive Salmonella infections in children in China

Invasive Salmonella infections result in a significant burden of disease including morbidity, mortality, and financial cost in many countries. Besides typhoid fever, the clinical impact of non-typhoid Salmonella infections is increasingly recognized with the improvement of laboratory detection capacity and techniques. A retrospective multicenter study was conducted to analyze the clinical profiles and antimicrobial resistance patterns of invasive Salmonella infections in hospitalized children in China during 2016–2018. A total of 130 children with invasive Salmonella infections were included with the median age of 12 months (range: 1–144 months). Seventy-nine percent of cases occurred between May and October. Pneumonia was the most common comorbidity in 33 (25.4%) patients. Meningitis and septic arthritis caused by nontyphoidal Salmonella (NTS) infections occurred in 12 (9.2%) patients and 5 (3.8%) patients. Patients < 12 months (OR: 16.04) and with septic shock (OR: 23.4), vomit (OR: 13.33), convulsion (OR: 15.86), C-reactive protein (CRP) ≥ 40 g/L (OR: 5.56), and a higher level of procalcitonin (PCT) (OR: 1.05) on admission were statistically associated to an increased risk of developing meningitis. Compared to 114 patients with NTS infections, 16 patients with typhoid fever presented with higher levels of CRP and PCT (P < 0.05). The rates of resistance to ampicillin, sulfamethoxazole/trimethoprim, ciprofloxacin, and ceftriaxone among Salmonella Typhi and NTS isolates were 50% vs 57.3%, 9.1% vs 24.8%, 0% vs 11.2%, and 0% vs 9.9%, respectively. NTS has been the major cause of invasive Salmonella infections in Chinese children and can result in severe diseases. Antimicrobial resistance among NTS was more common.

Point-of-Care Ultrasound-Guided Aspiration of the Hip Joint by an Emergency Medicine Physician: A Pediatric Retrospective Case Series

OBJECTIVES

Early administration of antibiotics is crucial to treating septic hip. This study aimed to describe the clinical course and outcomes of children with septic hip diagnosed using point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS)-guided hip aspirations performed by an emergency medicine physician.

METHODS

A retrospective case series analysis.

RESULTS

Between January 1, 2014, and December 31, 2019, 10 children with septic hip were diagnosed by emergency physicians using POCUS-guided hip aspirations. Six of them were female; the mean age was 4.2 ± 4.5 years, and the mean time from onset of symptoms to diagnosis was 2.9 ± 1.7 days. Seven patients (70%) had a history of fever. All the patients had elevated inflammatory blood markers (white blood cell count >12 K/μL, erythrocyte sedimentation rate >40 mm/h, or a C-reactive protein >2 mg/dL). The mean time from hospital arrival to the first antibiotic dose was 5.2 + 4.0 hours. All the children were discharged fully ambulatory and did not require rehospitalization or repeat aspiration after discharge.

CONCLUSIONS

This case series shows that POCUS-guided hip aspiration is both safe and feasible in diagnosing septic hip in the pediatric emergency department. The procedure enables rapid diagnosis and early initiation of antibiotic treatment, thus reducing the risk for complications related to delayed initiation of therapy.

Developments in diagnosis and treatment of paediatric septic arthritis

Acute septic arthritis in children is an orthopaedic emergency. A delay in diagnosis and inappropriate treatment can result in devastating damage to the joint with lifelong disability as a consequence. The clinical presentation can be a diagnostic challenge, especially in young children. A recent systematic review showed that joint tenderness and fever are important signals of septic arthritis. Ultrasound is helpful in detecting the presence of a joint effusion. Plain radiographs may show bone changes but magnetic resonance imaging is the most reliable imaging study for detecting concomitant osteomyelitis. The diagnosis of acute septic arthritis is highly suggestive when pus is aspirated from the joint, in case of a positive culture or a positive gram stain of the joint fluid, or if there is a white blood-cell count in the joint fluid of more than 50000/mm³. Staphylococcus aureus is the most commonly cultured organism. Recent systematic reviews have identified the most effective drainage techniques, including needle aspiration, arthroscopy and arthrotomy, depending on the affected joint. After the drainage procedure it is important to monitor the clinical and laboratory outcomes. Additional drainage procedures may be necessary in select cases.

Infectious arthritis and the temporomandibular joint. A review

OBJECTIVE

Microorganisms can cause acute infectious arthritis, chronic infectious arthritis, or reactive inflammatory arthritis. The aim of this study is to perform a narrative review of the pathophysiology, etiology, and diagnostic features of infectious arthritis and TMJ infectious arthritis.

METHODS

A search of the literature was performed using Medline, Scielo, Embase, and Google Scholar databases. The terms employed for the search were "Temporomandibular Joint Disorders" and "Infectious Arthritis"; or "Septic Arthritis"; or "Bacterial, Fungal, or Viral Arthritis." Over three hundred articles were screened for eligibility.

RESULTS

The selected articles were utilized to perform a narrative review of the general aspects of infectious arthritis and infectious arthritis affecting the TMJ.

CONCLUSION

Infectious arthritis is a rare, yet very morbid, form of arthritis. Understanding general aspects of joint infections and specific features of TMJ infectious arthritis is imperative for an adequate diagnosis.

[Research progress of total hip arthroplasty for patients with sequelae of suppurative hip arthritis]

Objective

To summarize the research progress of total hip arthroplasty (THA) in treatment of sequelae of suppurative hip arthritis.

Methods

The relevant literature was systematically searched and the operation timing, treatments of acetabular and femoral sides, and prosthesis selection in THA for sequelae of suppurative hip arthritis were summarized.

Results

THA is an effective way to treat the sequelae of suppurative hip arthritis. In order to avoid the recurrence of infection, THA is recommended to be performed after 10 years of resting period of hip septic infection. These patients may have acetabulum dysplasia and poor coverage of acetabulum. When performing THA, high position acetabulum, osteotomy of the medial acetabular wall, structural bone graft, Cage, tantalum augment, or three-dimensional printing prosthesis can be chosen. The femoral side may has small medullary cavity, increased femoral neck anteversion, increased femoral neck-stem angle, extend trochanter, and poor bone mass. When performing THA, the femoral osteotomy and appropriate prosthesis can be selected for treatment. The patients with sequelae of suppurative hip arthritis are mostly young, cementless THA is preferred for a better long-term survivorship.

Conclusion

THA is an effective method for the sequelae of suppurative hip arthritis, but the operation is difficult and has relative high complication rate. Surgeons should have full understanding.

Invasive Salmonella infections among children in Bintulu, Sarawak, Malaysian Borneo: a 6-year retrospective review

Background

Invasive Salmonella infections result in significant morbidity and mortality in developing countries. In Asia, typhoid and paratyphoid fever are reported to be the major invasive Salmonella infections, while invasive non-typhoidal Salmonella (iNTS) infections are believed to be uncommon. Data from Sarawak, in Malaysian Borneo, are limited.

Methods

A retrospective study identifying all children aged < 15 years with invasive Salmonella infections from 2011 to 2016 was conducted in Bintulu Hospital in Sarawak. Population incidences, clinical and bacterial characteristics were examined.

Results

Forty-four patients were identified during the 6-year study period: 43 had iNTS infection and 1 had typhoid fever. The average annual iNTS incidence was 32.4 per 100,000 children aged < 5 years. None of the children had malaria or HIV infection, and only 7% were severely malnourished. Salmonella Enteritidis and Salmonella Java were the commonest NTS serovars identified. Pneumonia was the most common manifestation of iNTS disease, present in 20 (47%) children. Other manifestations included gastroenteritis, fever without a source, septic arthritis and meningitis. Salmonella Enteritidis was identified in 76% of those with pneumonia, significantly more frequently than in children with other manifestations. Over 25% of children with iNTS developed severe disease and nearly 10% suffered long term morbidity or mortality. While 78% of Salmonella Java isolates were multi-drug resistant, nearly all other isolates were susceptible to most antimicrobials, including ampicillin.

Conclusions

Bintulu Division in Sarawak observed a very high incidence of childhood iNTS infections. Enteric fever was uncommon. The epidemiology of invasive Salmonella infections in Malaysian Borneo differs considerably from that of neighbouring countries in Asia.

Midterm Results of Total Hip Arthroplasty in Patients With High Hip Dislocation After Suppurative Hip Arthritis

BACKGROUND

Total hip arthroplasty (THA) is technically challenging in patients with high dislocation of the hip secondary to suppurative arthritis. The technical difficulty is attributable to the complex hip anatomy and the potential risk of recurrent infection in these patients. This study investigated the midterm results of THA in patients with Crowe type III and IV high dislocation of the hip secondary to suppurative arthritis.

METHODS

This study retrospectively reviewed 45 patients (45 hips) who underwent cementless THA with a mean quiescent infection period of 34.2 years. This study included 23 men and 22 women (mean age, 45.9 years) at the time of operation. The mean follow-up was 6.4 years. Clinical and radiographic outcomes and complications were evaluated.

RESULTS

The mean Harris hip score significantly improved from 48.1 to 87.6. The modified Merle d'Aubigné-Postel, Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Arthritis Index, low back pain visual analog scale, and the 12-item short-form health survey scores also improved significantly. The mean limb length discrepancy was reduced from 38.9 mm to 6.4 mm. Postoperative dislocation occurred in 2, temporary sciatic nerve paralysis in 3, and intraoperative fracture in 2 patients. Infection and femoral stem loosening necessitated hip revision surgery in 1 patient each.

CONCLUSION

THA could provide good joint function and significantly improve quality of life at the time of midterm follow-up in patients undergoing high hip dislocation secondary to suppurative arthritis. However, a relatively high incidence of complications occurred which can be treated.

Native septic arthritis is not an immediate surgical emergency

Acute native joint septic arthritis is generally considered a surgical emergency, requiring drainage within hours, including during night, weekend or holiday shifts. However, there are few data supporting the need for the disruption caused by this degree of urgency.

METHODS

We performed a retrospective review of all adult patients seen in our medical center from 1997-2015 with culture-proven septic arthritis and noted the epidemiology of sequelae, and their possible association with a delay in surgical drainage.

RESULTS

Of 204 septic arthritis episodes, 46 (23%) involved interdigital hand and foot joints. Large joints involved included the knee (n = 67), shoulder (48), hip (22), ankle (8), acromio-clavicular (5), elbow (4), wrist (3), and sterno-clavicular (1) regions. All patients underwent surgical drainage of the joint and received targeted systemic antibiotic therapy. Sequelae of varying severity occurred in 83 patients (41%): recurrences (n = 15); secondary arthrosis (30); persistent pain (9); Girdlestone procedure (9); arthrodesis (9); amputation (8); stiffness (8); and Chronic Regional Pain Syndrome (2). By multivariate Cox regression analysis factors did not predict sequelae included: age; treatment with systemic corticosteroids; pre-existing clinical or radiological arthropathy; total duration of antibiotic therapy; type of joint; and, number of surgical interventions. Similarly, there was no association of sequelae with the number of days of pre-hospitalization joint symptoms (hazard ratio 1.0, 95% confidence interval 0.99-1.01) or hours spent in the emergency department (HR 1.0, 0.9-1.2). Notably, patients who had joint lavage within 6 h of presentation had similar functional outcomes as those with lavage done at 6-12 h, 12-24 h, or > 24 h after presentation.

CONCLUSIONS

Our data suggest that for native septic arthritis, in the absence of clinical sepsis immediate joint drainage does not appear to reduce the risk of sequelae compared with delayed drainage.

Childhood Pyogenic Osteomyelitis in Abakaliki, South East Nigeria

Background:

Pyogenic osteomyelitis is an important child health problem in developing countries. It is a one-disease state with a spectrum of pathological features and clinical forms ranging from acute to chronic presentation. Its pattern of presentation varies from and within subregions. The aim of this study was to determine the pattern and outcome of childhood pyogenic osteomyelitis in a low-resource environment.

Materials and Methods:

This was a retrospective study of all the children aged 18 years and under seen with pyogenic osteomyelitis in Federal Teaching Hospital Abakaliki between January 2005 and December 2015.

Results:

In 76 patients, there was pyogenic osteomyelitis involving 85 bones. Female-to-male ratio was 1:1.7, and the mean age was 9.9 ± 5.1 years. The clinical forms of presentation were acute in 16 (21.1%), subacute in 10 (13.2%), and chronic in 50 (65.8%) patients. Acute osteomyelitis was the more likely form of presentation among infants (P < 0.001) and urban children (P < 0.011) whereas subacute and chronic osteomyelitis were more likely among the older children (P < 0.001) and rural residents (P < 0.011). Staphylococcus aureus was the most common isolated pathogen. Anemia, septic arthritis, and pathological fractures were the three top complications observed. Fifty patients (65.8%) recovered and adjudged cured, 9 (11.8%) were lost to follow-up, and 17 (22.4%) were unable to afford the financial cost of the treatment.

Conclusion:

In our environment, chronic pyogenic osteomyelitis sequel to acute hematogenous bone infection in childhood is common. Poverty is also a limiting factor in its definitive treatment. These calls for a policy response aimed at improved care and preventive strategies based on the observed pattern.

Septic arthritis in children: diagnosis and treatment

Acute septic arthritis in children is usually hematogenous. It is more common in boys, and it most often affects the large joints of the lower limb. Diagnosis is based on cultures obtained from the infected joint and is supported by C-reactive protein blood test or ultrasound imaging. Staphylococcus aureus is the most common causative agent and is the primary target for empiric treatment. First-generation cephalosporins and clindamycin are suitable antibiotics. Vancomycin is utilized in areas with high rates of clindamycin- and methicillin-resistant S. aureus. After a short intravenous administration of 2–4 days, a total course of 2 weeks is sufficient in uncomplicated cases. Early antibiotic treatment has significantly improved the prognosis in high-income settings, but uncomplicated recovery is compromised if the treatment is delayed. Complications such as symptomatic osteoarthritis or avascular necrosis of the femoral head develop slowly. A long follow-up of 1–2 years is required to detect all possible sequelae.

Childhood Pyogenic Septic Arthritis as Seen in a Teaching Hospital South East Nigeria

BACKGROUND

Childhood pyogenic septic arthritis and its associated musculoskeletal morbidity is an important health concern in developing countries. Its pattern of presentation that varies from and within subregions has implications on the early recognition, treatment, and outcome. The aim of this study was to determine the pattern and outcome of childhood septic arthritis in our environment.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This was a retrospective study of all the children seen with pyogenic septic arthritis in Federal Teaching Hospital Abakaliki between January 2005 and December 2015.

RESULTS

Childhood septic arthritis accounted for 44 (83%) of the 53 patients seen with pyogenic septic arthritis. Female to male ratio was 1:1.75 and the mean age was 5.7 ± 0.73 years. Eight patients (18.2%) had polyarticular involvements. The right shoulder was significantly more involved than the left and the left hip more than right. Overall, there was a preponderance of onset of symptoms in the dry season. Children from the rural areas accounted for 85.7% of those with the onset of symptom in rainy season. Delayed presentation >6 days (in 68.2% of patients) was related to age (P < 0.042), and health seeking behavior (P < 0.036). Staphylococcus aureus was the commonest causative organism. Seventy-seven percent (77%) underwent open arthrotomy. Anemia, septic shock, and joint stiffness were three top complications observed. Mortality rate was 2.3%, and cause of death was overwhelming sepsis.

CONCLUSION

In our setting, pyogenic septic arthritis is predominantly a childhood health problem and children under 5 years of age are the most vulnerable. Delayed presentation, an important factor in morbidity and mortality associated with septic arthritis was common among the patients, calls for a public enlightenment program on the importance of early presentation.

Septic arthritis in children in resource limited and non-resource limited countries: an update on diagnosis and treatment

INTRODUCTION

Septic arthritis (SA) is an orthopedic emergency in childhood. It is uncommon in high resource settings. However, an incidence of 5-20 per 100,000 children has been reported in low-income countries. Area covered: The predictive value of serum markers is still under debate and the proposed diagnostic algorithms for SA are not sufficiently validated in children. Recent data suggest that short-course intravenous treatment, followed by oral therapy, is as effective as traditional long-term treatment. Results from three randomized controlled trials suggest that the addition of systemic steroids may accelerate clinical improvement. Minimally invasive surgical techniques have been proposed for treatment in recent years. Expert commentary: The causes and the epidemiology of septic arthritis will continue to mutate according to the changes in immunization practices, bacterial resistance patterns and the implementation of PCR techniques. Future research should focus on the assessment of appropriate antibiotic regimens and surgical procedures.

Update on the Management of Pediatric Acute Osteomyelitis and Septic Arthritis

Acute osteomyelitis and septic arthritis are two infections whose frequencies are increasing in pediatric patients. Acute osteomyelitis and septic arthritis need to be carefully assessed, diagnosed, and treated to avoid devastating sequelae. Traditionally, the treatment of acute osteoarticular infection in pediatrics was based on prolonged intravenous anti-infective therapy. However, results from clinical trials have suggested that in uncomplicated cases, a short course of a few days of parenteral antibiotics followed by oral therapy is safe and effective. The aim of this review is to provide clinicians an update on recent controversies and advances regarding the management of acute osteomyelitis and septic arthritis in children. In recent years, the emergence of bacterial species resistant to commonly used antibiotics that are particularly aggressive highlights the necessity for further research to optimize treatment approaches and to develop new molecules able to fight the war against acute osteoarticular infection in pediatric patients.

Arthroscopic Treatment of Septic Arthritis of the Elbow in a 4-Year-Old Girl

Pediatric septic arthritis is uncommon and has been traditionally treated by joint aspiration or open arthrotomy. There are some reports about arthroscopic surgery in pediatric septic arthritis of the knee, hip, and shoulder. However, there is no report for the case of elbow. We report a case of pediatric septic arthritis of elbow treated with arthroscopically with good clinical condition at 3-year follow-up. This paper is based on a report first published in Japanese (Tojo (2012)).

Rapid in situ chondrocyte death induced by Staphylococcus aureus toxins in a bovine cartilage explant model of septic arthritis

OBJECTIVE

To assess in situ chondrocyte viability following exposure to a laboratory strain and clinical isolates of Staphylococcus aureus.

METHODS

Bovine cartilage explants were cultured in the presence of S. aureus 8325-4 (laboratory strain), clinical S. aureus isolates or non-infected culture medium of pH values 7.4, 6.4 and 5.4. All clinical isolates were isolated from the joint aspirates of patients presenting with S. aureus-induced septic arthritis (SA). At designated time points, in situ chondrocyte viability was assessed within defined regions-of-interest in the axial and coronal plane following live- and dead-cell image acquisition using the fluorescent probes 5-chloromethylfluorescein diacetate (CMFDA) and propidium iodide (PI), respectively, and confocal laser-scanning microscopy (CLSM). Cartilage water content, following S. aureus 8325-4 exposure, was obtained by measuring cartilage wet and dry weights.

RESULTS

S. aureus 8325-4 and clinical S. aureus isolates rapidly reduced in situ chondrocyte viability (>45% chondrocyte death at 40 h). The increased acidity, observed during bacterial culture, had a minimal effect on chondrocyte viability. Chondrocyte death commenced within the superficial zone (SZ) and rapidly progressed to the deep zone (DZ). Simultaneous exposure of SZ and DZ chondrocytes to S. aureus 8325-4 toxins found SZ chondrocytes to be more susceptible to the toxins than DZ chondrocytes. Cartilage water content was not significantly altered compared to non-infected controls.

CONCLUSIONS

Toxins released by S. aureus have a rapid and fatal action on in situ chondrocytes in this experimental model of SA. These data advocate the prompt and thorough removal of bacteria and their toxins during the treatment of SA.

The epidemiology of pediatric bone and joint infections in Cambodia, 2007-11

There are limited data on osteoarticular infections from resource-limited settings in Asia. A retrospective study of patients presenting to the Angkor Hospital for Children, Cambodia, January 2007-July 2011, identified 81 cases (28% monoarticular septic arthritis, 51% single-limb osteomyelitis and 15% multisite infections). The incidence was 13.8/100 000 hospital attendances. The median age was 7.3 years, with a male/female ratio of 1.9:1; 35% presented within 5 days of symptom onset (median 7 days). Staphylococcus aureus was cultured in 29 (36%) cases (52% of culture-positive cases); one isolate was methicillin-resistant (MRSA). Median duration of antimicrobial treatment was 29 days (interquartile range 21-43); rates of surgical intervention were 96%, and 46% of children had sequelae, with one fatality. In this setting osteoarticular infections are relatively common with high rates of surgical intervention and sequelae. Staphylococcus aureus is the commonest culturable cause, but methicillin-resistant S. aureus is not a major problem, unlike in other Asian centers.

The epidemiology and outcome of acute septic arthritis: a hospital based study

BACKGROUND

Septic arthritis is an acute bacterial infection affecting synovial joints. It is an orthopaedic emergency with potential high morbidity and mortality. This study determined the epidemiological pattern and outcome of acute septic arthritis and analyzed factors affecting morbidity and mortality Methods:This is a 5 year (2007-2012) retrospective study conducted at NKST rehabilitation hospital Mkar, North -Central Nigeria. All patients with septic arthritis upon presentation were consecutively selected. Patients with clear, non-purulent or haemorrhagic joint aspirate and those with incomplete data were excluded from the study. Data was analysed using SPSS version 21.

RESULTS

A total of 30 patients with 35septic joints were studied. Eighteen (60%) were males and 12(40%) were female with a male to female ratio of 1.5:1. Age range was 3months and 75years. The knee was the commonest 16(45.7 %) joint involved followed by the hip joint 11(31.4%). Staphylococcus aureus was the commonest organism cultured in joint aspirate in 19 (54.3%) patients and postoperative complications include joint stiffness 2(5.7%), painand stiffness 3(8.6%), bony ankylosis2(5.7%) and limb shortening 1(2.9%).

CONCLUSION

Early accurate diagnosis and prompt interventionare crucial for a successful outcome. Appropriate drainage of septic joints and antibiotic treatment can result in prompt recovery with minimum or no long term morbidity. Close follow-up is needed to monitor the growth of the affected limbs until skeletal maturity. There is a need to maintain a high index of suspicion and to educate patients about early presentation, early referral, avoidance of improper use of antibiotics and regular follow-up after the acute pathology.

[Salmonella glenohumeral arthritis]

We report the first case of glenohumeral Salmonella arthritis in an immunocompetent 86-year-old woman. There was no entry point. An empirical antibiotherapy was started then adapted according to culture results. Given the persistence of symptoms, an arthroscopy was performed at 72 hours for a joint lavage and synovectomy. Postoperative course was good. Apyrexia was obtained by 72 hours and inflammatory syndrome was normalized in 12 days. The patient was reviewed regularly until the 3rd month. She has no clinical sequelae. Her osteoarthritis remained stable throughout follow-up.

Septic arthritis or transient synovitis of the hip in children

The crucial differentiation between septic arthritis and transient synovitis of the hip in children can be difficult. In 1999, Kocher et al introduced four clinical predictors which were highly predictive (99.6%) of septic arthritis. These included fever (temperature ≥ 38.5°C), inability to bear weight, white blood-cell count > 12.0 × 109 cells/L and ESR ≥ 40 mm/hr; CRP ≥ 20 mg/L was later added as a fifth predictor. We retrospectively evaluated these predictors to differentiate septic arthritis from transient synovitis of the hip in children over a four-year period in a primary referral general hospital. When all five were positive, the predicted probability of septic arthritis in this study was only 59.9%, with fever being the best predictor. When applied to low-prevalence diseases, even highly specific tests yield a high number of false positives and the predictive value is thereby diminished.

Clinical predictors should be applied with caution when assessing a child with an irritable hip, and a high index of suspicion, and close observation of patients at risk should be maintained.