RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Septic arthritis complicating hip osteoarthritis.
JF Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases
JO Ann Rheum Dis
FD BMJ Publishing Group Ltd and European League Against Rheumatism
SP 722
OP 723
DO 10.1136/ard.50.10.722
VO 50
IS 10
A1 Donell, S
A1 Williamson, D M
A1 Scott, D L
YR 1991
UL http://ard.bmj.com/content/50/10/722.abstract
AB Four patients with osteoarthritis of the hip, who developed septic arthritis of the affected joint, are reported. The septic arthritis developed insidiously and was diagnosed with difficulty. One patient died, two required subsequent joint excision, and one arthrodesis despite antibiotics. The presence of a recognised predisposing factor to septic arthritis, such as rheumatoid arthritis or a surgically replaced joint, can provide a diagnostic pointer. These cases suggest that osteoarthritis, similarly, is a predisposing factor. It is concluded that joint sepsis should be considered if a patient with osteoarthritis develops new symptoms from a single joint with associated systemic features.