Evaluation and Management of Septic Arthritis in Emergency Department “Narrative Review”
Abdulwahab Ahmed Alzahrani *
Consultant Pediatric Orthopedic and Deformities, Faculty of medicine, Albaha university, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
Abdullah Habib H. Alluqmani
King Abdulaziz University, Alryan Primary Healthcare, Saudi Arabia.
Mosab Abdullah Althaqafi
University of Ha'il, Saudi Arabia.
Ahmad Abdulsamad Alhamoud
King Saud bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Faisal Mousa Kuraydim
College of Medicine, Umm Al Qura University of Alqunfudah, Saudi Arabia.
Shatha Yahya Alothaimeen
Aliman General Hospital, Saudi Arabia.
Bashaer Mohammedsaleh
Charles University in Prague, Faculty Hopital in Hradec Kralove, Czechia.
Afnan Ahmed Hamod Zogeeli
King Fahad Central Hospital Jazan, Saudi Arabia.
Duaa Abdulkadir Al Muslim
Qatif Central Hospital, Saudi Arabia.
Rawan Ismail Nouruldeen
Ibn Sina National College, Saudi Arabia.
Maha Abdullah Alqahtani
King Abdulaziz University, Saudi Arabia.
Bassam Ibrahim Aljuhani
University of Ha'il, Saudi Arabia.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Septic arthritis (SA) is a secondary infective disease due to joints inflammation. It often appears with mono- or oligoarticular acute arthritis that frequently leads to an emergency department (ED) visit with need for prolonged hospitalization. SA is an orthopedic emergency that can threaten both life and limb due to its potential rapid destruction of the joint with fulminant sepsis, causing significant disability within hours to days. Delayed or poor treatment of septic arthritis can lead to irreversible joint damage with consequent disability in addition there to significant mortality rate. Management includes early detection and treatment with antibiotics, joint aspiration, and consultation for orthopedic surgery as potential operative management. This review aims to summarize current evidence regarding evaluation and management of septic arthritis in emergency department, and to highlight the difficulties of diagnosing and managing SA that face the healthcare providers to help overcome those difficulties and to recommend further studies to be done regarding those problems and their solutions.
Keywords: Septic arthritis, emergency, management