Work

Surgical approaches for septic arthritis

Year: 2024

Type: article

Abstract: Bone and joint infection is an extremely common emergency procedure in paediatric orthopaedics. An arthrotomy is a surgical exploration of a joint and is commonly needed to be performed for septic arthritis on an emergency basis. Although there is an increasing trend towards arthroscopic irrigation and washout, open arthrotomy is still an important tool for orthopaedic surgeons. It also has other therapeutic purposes, and these include: debridement/removal of loose bodies, ligament reconstruction, fracture fixation, disarticulation, joint replacement and tumour excision. We describe the most commonly used approaches to perform arthrotomy in the hip, knee, ankle, shoulder, elbow, wrist, hand and fingers. Orthopaedic surgeons must be aware of common pitfalls and neurovascular structures present when performing an arthrotomy of common joints. This article provides an illustrative overview to approach each joint and will be a quick-reference guide especially for junior orthopaedic surgeons.

Source: Orthopaedics and Trauma

DOI: 10.1016/j.mporth.2024.09.005

Authors: Marjan Raad, Kyle James, Christopher James, Jai Relwani

Institutions: Royal Sussex County Hospital, Royal Alexandra Children's Hospital, University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust

Language: English

Topic: Orthopedic Infections and Treatments

Subfield: Surgery

Field: Medicine

Domain: Health Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: hybrid

Estimated APC paid: $2,450