Arthroscopic treatment of the septic knee.

Pyarthrosis of the knee was treated in 30 patients by arthroscopic decompression and lavage, coupled with parenteral and oral antibiotics. There were 21 men and nine women patients whose ages ranged from 6 months to 65 years of age. Twenty-two patients were considered to have a hematogenous origin as a cause of their pyarthrosis, and eight were caused by penetrating trauma. Twenty-eight of these patients had the onset of symptoms within 72 h prior to arthroscopy. Two adults had the onset of their symptoms 1 week prior to treatment. Follow-up has ranged from 6 months to 5 years. Staphylococcus aureus was cultured in 20 knees, Streptococcus pneumonia in three knees, Haemophilus influenzae in four knees, and Neisseria gonorrhoeae in one knee. The average hospital stay among 22 children aged 12 years or younger was 3.50 days. The other eight patients had an average hospital stay of 9.50 days. Three adults with diabetes and other medical problems, such as renal failure, had an average hospital stay of 17.33 days. Excellent results were obtained in 28 (93.3%) of 30 patients and good results were obtained in two (6.7%) of 30 patients. There were no poor results or recurrences, and no cases of osteomyelitis occurred. This method of treatment markedly reduces the morbidity and hospital stay of patients with a septic knee.