SENSITIVITY OF OBJECTIVE PARAMETERS IN THE DIAGNOSIS OF PEDIATRIC SEPTIC HIPS

This study examines the sensitivity of temperature, leukocyte count, a nd erythrocyte sedimentation rate in the diagnosis of pediatric septic arthritis of the hip by retrospective case analysis of 26 children, a ged 0 to 6 gears, in hospitals of central Brooklyn, The average presen ting temperature was 38.3 degrees C, with 65% of the patients having h ad a temperature higher than 38 degrees C, The average leukocyte count was 13,500 per mt, with 73% of patients having a leukocyte count grea ter than 9000 per mi, The average erythrocyte sedimentation rate (21 c ases) was 51 mm per hour, with 95% of the patients presenting with an erythrocyte sedimentation rate greater than 20 mm per hour, Of these c hildren with septic hips, only 5% had a normal erythrocyte sedimentati on rate, although 35% had a normal temperature and 27% had a normal le ukocyte count, Neonates (age younger than 1 month) were not febrile (a verage temperature, 36.7 degrees C) and did not have an elevated leuko cyte count (average leukocyte count, 9300 per mt) but did have an elev ated erythrocyte sedimentation rate (average erythrocyte sedimentation rate, 45 mm per hour), Of these 3 values, erythrocyte sedimentation r ate is the most sensitive indicator of septic arthritis of the hip in children 0 to 6 years of age.