SEPTIC SACROILIITIS

The authors treated 31 patients with septic arthritis of the sacroilia c joint (14 patients with tuberculosis, 7 acute staphylococcal, 6 gono coccal, and 4 typhoid). The clinical presentation was vague and nonspe cific, but most patients reported buttock pain, low back pain and diff iculty walking. In 28 patients, the diagnosis was established after cl inical examination, bone scans, hematologic investigations, and blood cultures. The diagnosis was established through arthrocentesis of the sacroiliac joint in 9 patients. In 3 patients, there was a delay in di agnosis. Twenty-nine patients improved on a conservative regimen of be d rest and antibiotics. Two patients required open drainage because of a large buttock abscess that was secondary to tuberculosis sacroiliit is.