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Abstract
Twenty-six patients with suspected or known septic joints who had been studied by
computed tomography were retrospectively reviewed. Eighteen patients (20 joints) proved
to have septic arthritis. Computed tomography was advantageous in patients with acute
septic arthritis of deep-seated axial joints, such as the hip and sacroiliac, where
it demonstrated periarticular soft tissue swelling as early as 36 hours after the
onset of symptoms. In three patients, this finding on computed tomography was helpful
in accurately localizing the disease process and facilitating a diagnostic closed
needle aspiration biopsy procedure. Four patients had a primary osseous focus of infection
in an adjacent epiphyseal region that was documented by computed tomography. Computed
tomography was superior to conventional radiology in revealing early articular bone
erosion in joints with curved and overlapping articular surfaces in five patients,
and resulted in alteration of their treatment. Fat-fluid levels within the suprapatellar
bursae were noted in one patient (two joints). Computed tomography is a valuable modality
for evaluation of patients with suspected septic arthritis of axial joints, particularly
in the acute stage. Furthermore, it is helpful for evaluation of possible periarticular
abscess formation and can serve as a guide for a percutaneous drainage procedure.
Computed tomography can also be used when articular bone erosion or medullary extension
of osteomyelitis is suspected but not fully documented by conventional radiography.
Keywords
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© 1985 Published by Elsevier Inc.
