Septic arthritis: what it is, symptoms, diagnosis and treatment

Septic arthritis is an infection of a joint caused by bacteria that can appear after surgery, due to an injury near or far from the joint, or as a result of an infection elsewhere in the body, such as a urinary tract infection or a wound. present in the skin.

The most affected areas in septic arthritis are the knee and hip joints, but it can appear in any other joint in the body.

Septic arthritis can be cured and its treatment must be started in the hospital with the use of antibiotics directly into the vein, as well as drainage of the joint with a needle. After this, treatment must be continued through physiotherapy to recover movement of the joint and prevent the appearance of pain.

Main symptoms

The main symptoms of septic arthritis are:

• Inability to move the joint;
• Severe pain when moving the affected limb;
• Swelling and redness in the joint;
• Fever above 38º C;
• Burning sensation in the joint.

Septic arthritis leads to progressive degeneration of the joint and can therefore result in its destruction, especially if the infection is not identified in time and treated correctly.

Symptoms of septic arthritis are more common in children and the elderly with infected wounds in areas close to joints, and it is also more common in patients with autoimmune diseases or pre-existing conditions such as diabetes or cancer.

The most affected joints are the knee and hip, the latter being very serious when it occurs in children, as development may be compromised.

How to confirm the diagnosis

The diagnosis of septic arthritis must be made by an orthopedist and is generally based on the person’s symptoms and clinical history.

However, the doctor often also asks for some tests to be carried out, especially X-rays, blood tests and joint puncture, in which a sample of joint fluid is taken to be analyzed in the laboratory. This analysis allows us to know the type of microorganism that is causing the infection and allows us to better guide treatment.

Make an appointment with the nearest orthopedist, using the following tool, to diagnose septic arthritis and begin the most appropriate treatment:

How the treatment is carried out

Septic arthritis is considered an emergency and, therefore, if this type of infection is suspected, it is very important to go to the hospital quickly. Treatment for septic arthritis begins with admission to the hospital to carry out the necessary tests and take medication for pain. After the test results, antibiotics are administered intravenously to help fight the infection.

Normally, hospitalization is maintained until symptoms improve, but normally the person needs to continue using the antibiotic at home, for the time indicated by the doctor, to ensure that all bacteria are eliminated.

Physical Therapy for Septic Arthritis

Throughout the treatment, as the person improves, the doctor may recommend physiotherapy so that exercises can be started with the aim of recovering movement in the affected limb. These exercises should be continued until joint movement has returned to normal, or as close to normal as possible.