ULTRASOUND - GUIDED ASPIRATION IN SUSPECTED SEPSIS OF RESECTION ARTHROPLASTY OF THE HIP-JOINT

The authors described 17 patients who had had resection arthroplasty o f the hip and who were suspected of having an infection. The resection arthroplasties had been performed for previous infection. All the pat ients were studied by ultrasonography to detect effusion in the pseudo articular space, Thirteen of the 17 patients were found to have an eff usion by ultrasonography, Fluid was obtained in 9 of the 13 patients b y ultrasonographic-guided aspiration. The mean aspirated volume was 3 ml (range 1-25 ml). Five of the 9 aspirates proved to be septic, The e chopattern in all but one of those five with sepsis was nonechofree. O f four other patients in whom it was not possible to aspirate fluid la vage of the pseudoarticular space one yielded a positive culture, The role of ultrasonography in the diagnosis and management of patients wh o have undergone resection arthroplasty of the hip and who are suspect ed of having an infected pseudoarticular space is discussed.