Diagnostic and therapeutic aspiration of painful [irritable] hip joint in children

ABSTRACT

To emphasize the importance of ultrasonography in diagnosing painful hip joint in children, and to describe a technique which is simple and therapeutic in the management of painful hip joint in children. Prospective study on 10 children admitted with irritable hips. Surgical and Radiological Departments, Ahmadi Hospital, Kuwait Oil Co. Ten children with irritable hip joint and fever; with an average age of 4 years. All had ultrasonography of hip followed by aspiration and wash out of the hip joint under general anesthesia. Three children had aspiration of frank pus which grew Staphlococcus. Four children had turbid fluid and 3 children had clear fluid. All patients improved with no complications. Ultrasonography provides early and reliable assessment of the hips. Needle aspiration with wash out is a simple, harmless and useful technique in the management of children with painful hip joint