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New Drain for Septic Arthritis in Children

Septic arthritis is an infection of the joint. It is also known as infectious or bacterial arthritis. This condition can affect anyone of any age, including children. It must be treated as quickly as possible to avoid long-term problems.

The infected hip may be treated with antibiotics. Sometimes surgery is needed to debride or clean the joint. The operation is usually done in children using a small incision over the front of the hip.

This approach limits damage to the growing bone. It preserves the muscles around the hip. It also gives quick and easy access to the joint capsule. A special drain is placed inside the wound to help keep the joint clear of unwanted fluid and inflammatory cells.

The authors of this report suggest a new way to drain the hip. They used the anterior incision and passed a drain through the joint capsule and out through a stab wound in the buttocks. The drain was held in place with a tiny stitch.

This placement allows the fluid to drain when the child is lying on his or her back. The drain is taken out in about 48 hours. Combining an anterior incision with a posterior drain allows the best of both techniques.

References: Matthew J. Smith, MD, et al. Combined Technique for Draining Septic Arthritis of the Pediatric Hip. In The American Journal of Orthopedics. March 2007. Vol. 36. No. 3. Pp. 165-166.

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