Septic arthritis of the hip: a case report

Abstract

A 61-year-old female presented to a chiropractic clinic complaining of right hip pain of three days duration. Examination revealed a stiff and painful hip. An AP pelvis radiograph taken on that day did not reveal radiographic signs of hip infection. A diagnosis of hip sprain was recorded. The patient was treated conservatively for 7 weeks with rest, NSAIDS and electrotherapy. Her condition failed to improve with this treatment and deteriorated further. The patient was then referred for an orthopaedic consultation. Results from a technetium-99m-labelled methylene diphosphonate ([^99mTc]MDP) bone scan and a gallium-67 (⁶⁷Ga) bone scan suggested a diagnosis of hip joint infection. Subsequent, radiographs of the right hip revealed marked destruction of the right femoral head and acetabulum. Staphylococcus aureus was isolated following aspiration of the painful hip confirming a diagnosis of septic arthritis. The patient went on to operative treatment and is awaiting a total hip replacement. Septic arthritis of the hip can be easily overlooked, initially, as a possible cause of hip pain. The differential diagnosis of a stiff and painful hip must include septic arthritis.

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