Abstract
The authors report findings of a retrospective study of 5 patients (4 men and 1 woman) with pyogenic arthritis of the knee who were treated between 1996 and 2001 with arthroscopic debridement and closed suction-irrigation. The patients were operated on 7 to 20 days (mean : 15 days) after the disease on set. The mean age was 55 years (range : 24 to 75 years). The mean follow-up interval was 9 months (range : 3 to 20 months). Infecting organisms were staphylococcus aureus in 3 patients, streptococcus pneumoniae in 1 and streptococcus agalactiae in 1.
Radiographs showed bony destruction of medial femoral condyle and medial tibial condyle in 1 case. The patients reacquired almost the same range of motion as before the infection. The infection was eradicated in all patients, with no recurrence. Arthroscopic debridement and closed suction-irrigation were considered to be effective for the early cases with few bone changes.
