Septic arthritis of the hip caused by Neisseria gonococcae.

In two patients septic monoarthritis of the hip was caused by Neisseria gonococcae. Treatment by parenteral penicillin in the first patient and oral erythromycin in the second resulted in complete recovery without residual loss of function in the affected hips. Gonococcal arthritis of the hip appears to respond favorably to appropriate antibiotic therapy, and immediate surgical drainage is probably unnecessary. This is in contrast to bacterial arthritis of the hip due to other organisms, for which surgical intervention and drainage are mandatory.