[Septic polyarthritis: treatment complications and results]. / Poliartritis sépticas: complicaciones y resultados del tratamiento.

OBJECTIVE: The rare polyarticular clinical presentation of peripheric septic arthritis has worst prognosis than monoarticular one. We studied 10 patients with polyarticular septic arthritis treated during the last 8 years, to evaluate functional result and complications after surgical treatment. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We studied 5 men and 5 women, with an average age of 46.5 years (range 18-75 years), they presented septic arthritis in two or more joints. We discuss aetiology, clinical presentation and treatment. RESULTS: Treatment was surgical debridement and parenteral antibiotic therapy. Functional result was poor in 54% of the joints treated, 50% of patients presented septic shock and three died.