“ Usually acquired through haematogenous spread (e.g. remote wound infection, intravenous drug use (IVDU), pneumonia, etc.). It usually affe...
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Usually acquired through haematogenous spread (e.g. remote wound infection, intravenous drug use (IVDU), pneumonia, etc.). It usually affects the hip, knee, shoulder, elbow or ankle. S. aureus is the most common pathogen, then group A Streptococcus and Gonococcus. Septic arthritis in the setting of IVDU tends to occur in unusual locations and involves unusual organisms (e.g. Pseudomonas and Klebsiella).
PLAIN FILM
• The hallmark is a joint effusion in a patient with signs of infection.
• Blurring of the periarticular fat planes is common.
• Periarticular soft tissue swelling.
• Periarticular osteopenia.
• Later, there is irregular joint space narrowing.
MRI
• Synovial enhancement post-contrast
• Joint effusion
• Soft tissue and bone marrow oedema
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