Acute osteomyelitis and septic arthritis in children. A simple approach to treatment.

A 12-month prospective study of 45 patients with bacteriologically proven acute osteitis and septic arthritis is presented. Sodium fusidate and erythromycin at the recommended dosage of 30 mg/kg/d for 3 weeks was found to be an effective first-line antibiotic regimen. The hazards of Haemophilus infection are emphasized. Immediate Gram staining is therefore strongly recommended. It was found that adequate drainage of a subperiosteal abscess without drilling of the bone always resulted in complete cure, while cases of septic arthritis consequent upon decompression of a contiguous metaphysitis were adequately treated by arthrotomy and irrigation alone. The authors believe that early limited surgery with adequate administration of antibiotics aided by early circumspect mobilization will provide a good functional and cosmetically acceptable result in most cases.