Septic arthritis of the wrist: a retrospective review of 39 cases

Abstract

We retrospectively analysed characteristics of 39 patients who presented with septic arthritis of the wrist between January 2015 and June 2021. There was a significant positive correlation between the number of risk factors, such as immunosuppression or diabetes, with Pseudomonas arthritis but not with the number of operations needed to treat the infection or the length of hospitalization. The duration of symptoms before admission at our hospital, C-reactive protein values at admission and infection with Pseudomonas were significantly correlated with the length of hospitalization, but Pseudomonas was detected in one patient only. Staphylococci were the most frequently detected bacteria and significantly correlated with the number of operations needed for treatment. Normal white blood cell counts or C-reactive protein values were frequently encountered. Level of evidence III