Search

For septic arthritis of the knee, we attempted to determine: the preferred surgical technique in the United-States (US), the believed "gold-standard" treatment among others. This was performed by an electronic-survey distributed to all academic orthopaedic faculty throughout the US. The preferred method was arthroscopy (69.8%). Arthroscopy is believed to be the gold-standard in 27.0%, arthrotomy in 29.4%, while 43.5% believe no gold-standard exists. In conclusion the majority of surgeons prefer arthroscopy when managing a native, septic knee in an adult patient. However, there is no national consensus on a gold-standard treatment or the role of synovectomy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To compare complications following arthroscopy and arthrotomy for treatment of septic knee arthritis. Patients undergoing arthroscopy and arthrotomy for a diagnosis of septic knee arthritis were identified in National Surgical Quality Improvement Program and placed in a multivariate analysis to determine if type of surgery contributed to postoperative complications. Knee arthrotomy was associated with an increased risk for increased operative time [Parameter estimate 4.555 (95% CI:3.023–6.085); p < 0.0001], minor morbid events [OR 2.064 (95% CI: 1.447–2.943); p < 0.0001], and any morbidity [OR 2.285 (95% CI:1.527–3.419); p < 0.0001]. Knee arthrotomy was associated with a higher risk of complications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]