The Elbow

Septic Arthritis

Causes:

Usually elderly patients.
The infection can be the result of:

a direct inoculation of a bacterium through an open injury to the joint
(e.g. open fracture), penetration of a foreign body, or during an intra-articular
injection, especially injection of a steroid suspension.
a haemato-genous dissemination from focal infections: dental
abscess, cystitis, urethritis, skin infections.

These causes are very dependent on the patient's resistance
against infections: patients with diabetes, renal failure or a deficient
immune system, e.g. rheumatoid arthritis, are more likely to suffer from
haematogenous dis-semination followed by a septic arthritis. 13, 14

Symptoms and Signs:

Acute, severe pain and functional loss.
Gross limitation of movement in the capsular pattern with a spastic endfeel;
The joint shows the signs of a hyperacute inflammation: much pain, gross swelling, redness, warmth
There are also general symptoms, such as high fever, a toxic appearance, pallor, loss of appetite and rigors.

Treatment:

A bacterial infection of the elbow joint is always very serious.
It may lead not only to total destruction of the joint but may also endanger life.

Local treatment: daily local aspirations- landmarks
Systemic treatment: antibiotic therapy.

Literature: