SEPTIC ARTHRITIS OF THE HIP IN INFANCY

A retrospective study was undertaken of 24 infants with septic arthrit is of one or both hips who presented to the Children's Hospital, Campe rdown, during the 15 year period from 1973 to 1989. Staphylococcus aur eus was found to be the most common pathogen. Umbilical catheterizatio n was a significant aetiological factor in seven of 10 neonates studie d. Young premature infants had the poorest outcome in regard to perman ent bony changes in the upper femur, hip instability and leg length di screpancy. In patients with unstable and severely damaged upper femora , late salvage procedures were found to be unsatisfactory.