Acute septic arthritis of the knee can lead to joint damage or sepsis, if early diagnosis and treatment fail to occur, which includes drainage of the joint, adequate antibiotic coverage and resting of the knee. Classically, drainage of the knee was performed either with multiple aspirations or open arhtrotomy. The arthroscopic approach has becoming widely accepted, as it allows adequate drainage of the pus and debridement with partial or total sinovectomy of the joint.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the differences between arthroscopy and open arthrotomy in the clinical outcomes and rate of recurrence in patients with septic arthritis of the knee joint.

We reviewed patients with acute septic arthritis of the knee admitted in our center between January 2010 and December 2014. The criteria for diagnosis was report of purulent material when arhtrotomy or arthroscopy was performed or a positive culture of the joint fluid. Patients with recent surgery or documented osteomyelitis of the femur or tíbia were excluded.

We used the Oxford Knee Score (OKS) to classify the clinical outcomes in the end of follow-up, and registered the rate of recurrence in each group. The statistical evaluation of the results was performed using Student's t-test.

65 patients were treated during this period, 37 by an open arthrotomy through a lateral supra-patellar aproach, and 28 by arthroscopy through 2 standard anterior portals. All the patients were imobilized with a cast or orthosis in the immediate post-operation period for a mean period of 13 days in the arthrotomy group (8–15) and 9 days in the arthroscopy group (6–12) and received endovenous antibiotics for at least 10 days, followed by oral antibiotics for a mean total of 36 days in the the arthrotomy group (30–48) and 32 days in the arthroscopy group (22–36). The mean follow-up was 22 months in the arthrotomy group (8–28 months) and 18 months in the arthroscopy group (14–24). The mean OKS was 31 in the the arthrotomy group (21–39) and 35 in the arthroscopy group (25–44). There was 1 recurrence in the arthrotomy group and 1 recurrence in the arthroscopic group, both managed by knee arthrotomy.

Drainage is a key step in treatment of knee pyoarthrosis, either through an open or an arthroscopic approach. Both seem to be equally effective, with no significant statistical difference in terms of recurrence. The functional results tend to favour the arthroscopic approach, but with no statistical significance.

Knee joint infection after an ACL reconstruction procedure is infrequently but might be a devastating clinical problem, if not diagnosed promptly and treated wisely.

The results of functional outcomes in these patients are not well known because there aren't large patient series in the literature.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the prevalence and determine the adequate management of septic arthritis following ACL reconstruction and to assess the patient functional outcomes.

The authors conducted a retrospective multicentric analysis of septic arthritis cases occurring after arthroscopically assisted ACL reconstructions (hamstrings and BTB), in patients submitted to surgery between 2010 to 2014. The study reviewed patients submitted do ACL reconstruction, that presented objective clinical suspicion of joint infection, in post-operative acute and sub-acute phases, associated with high inflammatory seric parameters (CRP >=10,0, ESR>=30,0) and synovial effusion laboratory parameters highly suggestive (PMN >=80, leucocytes >=3000).

All this patients were treated with antibiotic empiric suppressive therapy and then directed antibiotherapy according to antibiotic sensitivity profile, then the patients were submitted to arthroscopic lavage procedure, without arthropump, but with debris and fibrotic tissue removal preserving always the ACL plasty. The functional outcomes analyzed were the Lysholm and the IKDC score.

Eleven (2.2 %) out of 490 patients analyzed in the sudy were diagnosed with a post-operative septic arthritis. The microbiologic exams showed coagulase-negative Staphylococcus was present in 5 patients (S. lugdunensis in 4 cases and S. capitis in 1 case), Staphylococcus Aureus in 2 patients (1 MSSA and 1 MRSA). In four patients, the micro-organism was not identified.

The studied patients had a mean follow-up of 28 ± 16 months, the Lysholm score was 74.8 ± 12.2, the IKDC score was 66.4 ± 20.5.

Functional outcomes in the control group were better than those obtained in the infected group.

(Lysholm score 88.2 ± 9.4 (NS); IKDC score 86.6 ± 6.8 (NS). All patients retained their reconstructed ACL. None of the patients relapsed or need other intervention because of ACL failure and chronic instability.

The prevalence of septic arthritis after an ACL reconstruction in this series was 2.2 %, slightly higher than other international series (0.14 to 1.7 %). Arthroscopic lavages along with antibiotic treatment showed to be a secure procedure and allowed the preservation of the ACL plasties, without infection relapse. But the functional outcomes after active intra-articular infection were largely inferior to those obtained in patients without infection, probably to uncontrolled and intense inflammatory local response.

Acute septic arthritis of the knee may be a challenging diagnosis in the emergency department and must always be excluded in any patient with knee pain and local or systemic signs of infection. Arthrocentesis of the suspected knee is mandatory, since the analysis of the synovial fluid gives useful information like the white blood cell count (WBC)/mm3 or the polymorphonuclear cell percentage (PMP). These parameters will help the clinician to make the decision to drain the joint in the operation room, without having to wait for the culture or Gram stain, which may take several days to be available. The classical cutoff of 50,000 WBC/mm3 with more than 90% of PMP may fail to include all the septic arthritis of the knee, since significant variation have been described in recent years. The aim of this study was to evaluate the accuracy of WBC/mm3 and PMP in the synovial fluid in the diagnosis of acute septic arthritis of the knee.

We reviewed the clinical data of patients diagnosed with acute septic arthritis of the knee admitted in our center between January 2010 and December 2014, specifically the WBC/mm3 and the PMP of the synovial joint fluid. The criteria for diagnosis of an acute septic arthritis of the knee was report of purulent material when arhtrotomy or arthroscopy was performed or a positive culture of the joint fluid. The statistical evaluation of the results was performed using Student's t-test.

48 patients matched the inclusion criteria. The mean WBC/mm3 was 44.333 (14.610–182.640) and the mean PMP was 91,89% (86,4%–98,1%). 28 patients (58,33%) had a WBC/mm3 below 50.000 and 44 patients (91,67%) had a PMP above 90%, both with no statistical significance.

Knee arthrocentesis is mandatory in every patient suspected to have an acute knee pyoarthrosis, since the joint fluid analysis may show several abnormal findings. Our results show that a considerable number of patients may show a relatively low WBC/mm3 in the joint fluid in the presence of a knee pyoarthrosis. The PMP may be a better criteria, but again failed to achieve statistical significance, probably because of the low number of patients. The synovial fluid analysis alone is probably misleading in the diagnosis of an acute septic arthritis of the knee if the clinician is guided by the classical guidelines. The physical examination, medical history, laboratory and imagiologic tests are all key elements in this challenging diagnosis.

PURPOSE OF THE STUDY: Arthroscopic assisted treatment of tibial plateau fractures may reduce morbidity compared to open articular surgery, but bony fixation is necessarily percutaneous and minimal. The purpose of our study was not only to assess immediate results but also long term functional and anatomic results after arthroscopic treatment of tibial plateau fractures, with special reference to radiographical Results:

MATERIAL AND METHODS: seventy patients (mean age 47 years, range 18 to 72 years, 43 men, 27 women) were arthroscopically assisted treated for a fresh tibial plateau fracture. According to Schatzker classification, there was 20 type I, 27 type II, 18 type III and 5 type IV. The fixation device was: Kirchner wire in Schatzker I, percutaneous cannulated screw in Schatzker II,III,IV, and bone cement filing of the fracture site in 1 case. In 32 cases, where bone loss was significant. we use autologous bone graft, in 18 cases SRS. There were 15 meniscal injuries: 3 underwent arthroscopic suture, 8 had partial meniscectomy and 4 sub subtotal meniscectomy. We also diagnosticated 7 lesions of the medial pivot 6 ACL, 1 PCL : all were left in place. Al patients in the first post-operatory day start passive rehabilitation with kinetech All cases were suitable for immediate post op follow up. 19 were reviewed at long term. A clinical (Hospital for Special Surgery) and radiographical examination were done with an average follow-up of 46.7 months.

RESULTS: There were no complications except two immediate compartimental syndromes that stopped the arthroscopic treatment. Passive motion of the knee started at 1 day postop with no pain. Mean flexion at 3 months was 130 degrees. At revision, the average score was: 93 for Schatker I, 91 for Schatker II, 87 for Schatker III, 86 for Schatker IV. In eight cases we found early signs of osteoarthritis. There were no secondary bony depression or significant valgus deformity on X-rays.

CONCLUSION: Arthroscopic management of tibial plateau fractures allows a complete articular screening. Rapid rehabilitation, short hospital stay, and low rate of complications reduce morbidity. The long term results are as good as those with open surgical technique for the types of fracture that we have treated (type III and IV). A minimal, percutaneous osteosynthesis which was the only possibility under arthroscopic control, did not modify the anatomical Results:

Introduction and Aims: Prospective review of the patients who underwent stabilisation of displaced acetabular fractures in our unit in order to evaluate the presence of neurological lesions and functional outcome.

Method: Out of 136 patients operated over six years we identified 27 patients with neurological lesions. A standard protocol was followed for the clinical and neurophysiological evaluation of nerve injuries. Electromyography (EMG) was used to determine the anatomical location of the neurological lesions and the type of lesion, which act as a valuable tool in the diagnosis of double crush lesion in the sciatic nerve. Neurological recovery was evaluated with EMG studies and clinically rated as described by Clawson et al. Functional outcome was graded by the system proposed by Fassler and Swiontkowski.

Results: EMG studies revealed sciatic nerve lesions in all the cases. Additionally, in nine patients with a dropped foot there was evidence of a proximal (sciatic notch) and distal (neck of fibula) lesion – ‘double crush syndrome’. At final follow-up, clinical examination and associated EMG studies revealed full recovery in five cases with initial muscle weakness, and complete resolution of sensory symptoms (burning pain, hyposthesia) in four cases. There was improvement of functional capacity (motor and sensory) in two cases with initial complete drop foot and in four cases with muscle foot weakness. In 11 of the cases with dropped foot (all nine with double crush) at presentation, there was no improvement in function. Functional outcome was unsatisfactory in all patients with double crush injury.

Conclusion: In cases where there is evidence of ‘double crush lesions’ the prospect of functional recovery is low as seen in this group of patients. The patients with double crush syndrome are not expected to recover and could be considered as a sign of unfavourable outcome following neurological impairment after acetabular fractures. Single lesions appear to be associated with a more favourable prognosis.

Aims: To identify the incidence of neurological deþcit and functional outcome following displaced acetabular fractures. Methods: We carried out a prospective study of 136 patients who underwent skeletal stabilization of displaced acetabular fractures. Patients with sciatic nerve injuries were identiþed, assessed and followed up clinically. Routine EMG and nerve conduction studies were performed post-operatively on all cases with clinical proven neurological lesions to correlate the level, severity of the lesion and monitor progress of recovery. Results: 27 patients (19.8%) have neurological deþcit identiþed preoperatively. In 12 patients where the femoral heads were dislocated posteriorly. 20 were male and 7 were female. The mean age was 33.8 years (range 16–66). 15 patients had associated injuries but none of the patients had injury to the spinal cord. The mean ISS was 12.6 (range 9–34). The mean follow up was 3.4 years (range 1.5–6 years). 13 patients with complete drop foot at presentation. 9 patients had EMG proven double crush lesion. 3 patients had ipsilateral knee injury. 2 patients had intraopearative iatrogenic injury. All 9 patients with double crush syndrome have no improvement in function. Conclusions: Acetabular fractures associated with sciatic nerve injuries are devastating injuries with signiþcant long term morbidity. 50% patients showed improvement with time. Identiþcation of double crush lesion is vital as it is associated with poorer functional recovery as compared to single lesion.