Septic arthritis of the wrist in infancy.

Seven septic wrists in six patients were examined. The average follow-up was 7 years 5 months. The ages at diagnosis ranged from 3-145 days. All patients had one or more joints infected other than the wrist. Three patients cultured organisms. Three wrists were not diagnosed at the time of infection and had no surgical treatment. Four wrists were treated with multiple aspiration. All received antibiotics for 35-48 days. On follow-up no patient complained of pain or lack of function. Combined palmarflexion and dorsiflexion was > or = 50 degrees in all wrists. Two wrists were radiographically normal, whereas five were not. Three of these five had marked distortion of anatomy.