Arthroscopic management of septic arthritis of the wrist.

Bacterial septic arthritis of the wrist is a joint-threatening emergency that is often treated by open irrigation and debridement (I and D). There is evidence that patients with isolated septic arthritis of the wrist require fewer operations and have a shorter hospital stay when treated arthroscopically. This article describes the surgical technique for arthroscopic I and D of the wrist and discusses the indications and benefits of arthroscopic versus open I and D for septic arthritis of the wrist.