Pyogenic arthritis: emphasis on the need for surgical drainage of the infected joint

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Bynum DK Jr. Nunley JA. Goldner JL. Martinez S. x Southern Medical Journal. [JC:uvh] 75(10):1232-5, 1238, 1982 Oct. x A ten-year retrospective review of patients with acute hematogenous x pyogenic arthritis at the Duke University Medical Center yielded 14 x affected joints in the pediatric group and 32 in adults. Follow-up ranged x from six months to eight years. Analysis of factors possibly affecting end x results included the joint involved, organism, duration of infection, x antibiotics used, age of the patient, and mode of drainage--whether x surgical or by needle aspiration. Surgical drainage in the pediatric group x yielded uniformly excellent results. In adults, needle aspiration x correlated with increased mortality and morbidity. In contrast to other x series in the medical literature we found the indications for needle x aspiration to be highly restrictive, and we recommend surgical drainage x and appropriate antibiotics as the treatment of choice for most patients x with pyogenic arthritis. x