MRI in Suspected Acute Septic Arthritis of the Hip Joint in Children / 대한고관절학회지

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study is to assess the usefulness of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in diagnosis, planning of treatment methods for suspected acute septic arthritis in children, and evaluation of the clinical results of the operations with the help of magnetic resonance imaging as a diagnostic modality. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Between March 2003 and May 2007, 20 patients suspected of having acute septic arthritis of the hip underwent MRI. The mean age of the patients was 3 years and 5 months (range 10 days-14 years). The average follow-up was 2 years and 2 months (range 1 year-3 years 6 months). Assessment of MRI findings and final results with recurrence of the infection and post-infectious radiographic sequelae was performed retrospectively. RESULTS: Among the 20 cases, 17 cases(85%) showed joint effusion. Among these 17 cases, accompanying signal changes were observed in the meta-epiphyseal region in seven cases, and accompanying signal changes were observed in surrounding soft tissue in three cases. Accompanying abscess formation was observed in one case. The remaining three cases(15%), which had no joint effusion, showed an intramuscular abscess pocket around the joint, which mimicked septic arthritis. At final follow up, two cases showed unsatisfactory results, with limited joint motion and radiographic sequelae. CONCLUSION: In children who are suspected of having acute septic arthritis of the hip, MRI can provide useful information about the location and extent of infection and even the differential diagnosis of acute septic arthritis. MRI was considered to be a useful method for diagnosis of suspected acute septic arthritis in children.