[Bacterial infantile coxitis and its sequelae].

Septic arthritis constitutes a serious threat for the infant hip. Literature data mention a favourable outcome only after surgical drainage within 3-4 days after the onset of symptoms. Clinical observations impose the idea that recognition of this disease often occurs too late, which brings about a subsequent serious damage to the hips involved. In order to verify this idea and to demonstrate the grave sequela of late recognition an investigation was carried out among 18 patients known as having suffered from this disease, collected from 2 children's hospitals and one university clinic. Thereby literature data were confirmed. The variety of hip joint damage is described.