Introduction: Septic arthritis of a native hip is a relatively uncommon condition in adults. Prompt diagnosis and treatment of septic hip arthritis are imperative to preserve joint integrity, as failure to quickly intervene can allow rapid degenerative changes.
Case Report: This is a case report of a 50-year-old male that presented with right septic hip arthritis in the acute setting. He complained of pain with attempted range of motion and log-roll. Laboratory workup demonstrated no leukocytosis, but elevated inflammatory markers. A hip aspiration under fluoroscopy was performed, revealing a cell count of 100,600/cm3 with 91% neutrophils. His right hip underwent irrigation and debridement with a muscle-sparing anterolateral approach (Rottinger).
Conclusion: This case report describes the successful use of the anterior based muscle-sparing approach for incision and drainage of septic arthritis of the native hip joint in an adult patient. Advantages to this strategy include lower rate of nerve injury compared to classical anterior and lateral approaches, less muscle damage than the posterior approach, and no requirement for special skills or equipment as in the case of hip arthroscopy.
Keywords: Septic arthritis, anterior based muscle sparing and anterolateral
Septic arthritis of native hip joint by Staphylococcus lugdunensis: a case report
