Septic arthritis of the shoulder in children in Malawi. A randomised, prospective study of aspiration versus arthrotomy and washout.

Journal article

We undertook a prospective study of 61 children in Malawi with septic arthritis of the shoulder. They were randomised into two groups, treated by aspiration (group 1, 31 patients) or arthrotomy (group 2, 30 patients). Both received antibiotics for six weeks. We studied the results of blood tests, microbiology, and the clinical and radiological outcome one year after diagnosis. Only one patient was sickle-cell positive and three were HIV-positive. Non-typhoidal Salmonella species accounted for...

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Authors: Smith, S; Thyoka, M; Lavy, C; Pitani, A

• Journal: Journal of bone and joint surgery. British volume
• Volume: 84
• Issue: 8
• Pages: 1167-1172
• Publication date: 2002-11-01
• DOI: 10.1302/0301-620x.84b8.13080
• ISSN: 0301-620X
• Language: English
• Keywords: Female; Prospective Studies; Infant; Treatment Outcome; Seasons; Humans; Suction; Anti-Bacterial Agents; Shoulder Joint; Arthritis, Infectious; Malawi; Male