Septic arthritis of the knee. Five cases treated with synovectomy.

Five cases of suppurative non-gonococcal arthritis of the knee were treated with synovectomy 1-2 weeks after the diagnoses were confirmed. Indications for operation were persistent fever and continuous effusion, in spite of adequate antibiotic treatment and serial needle aspirations. The infection subsided in all cases. At follow-up, 2 years after operation, one patient had died of other disease, and there had been no recurrences among the remaining four. One patient had disabling pain on weight-bearing and considerable restriction of knee motion with 2-3 mm radiographic narrowing of the joint space. Three knees were painless on normal motion, but in two case changes resembling osteochondritis were found radiographically.