Acute septic arthritis in children.

THREE decades ago in the pre-antibiotic era, infection of a major joint carried an appreciable mortality and the end result of the joint was usually disastrous. Treatment consisted of rest and drainage, either by aspiration or formal surgical exploration. Since the introduction of antibiotics the results have improved dramatically. At first antibiotics were given systemically then later supplemented by intra-articular injection. However problems in treatment still remain. Local methods of irrigation, warning of the danger of intra-articular antibiotics and indications for surgical drainage are points still under discussion. There remains the need for constant surveillance of aetiological agents and their sensitivity in order to give optimal antibiotic cover. These points prompted a survey of acute septic arthritis as an aid to further consideration of the disease and its treatment in the acute phase.