Percutaneous aspiration and drainage has been used for treatment of collections at various sites in the body, howeverit has not been commonly described as a treatment option for septic arthritis. Only a few case reports1,2 were published previously regarding this potentialtreatment option for septic arthritis particularly in patients who are surgically unfit. We aim to evaluate the technical and clinical success rate of ultrasound-guided aspiration and drainage for septic arthritis.

We conducted a retrospective study of cases undergoing ultrasound-guided percutaneous aspiration and drainagefor septic arthritis from January 2010 to July 2017. Information were extracted from the procedure reports and from the electronic patient record system of the hospital. All patients showed clinical and imaging features of septic arthritis. Ultrasound-guided aspiration and drainage was performed using a pigtail catheter inserted with Seldinger technique. The technical success rate was assessed. Immediate and delayed complications were also recorded. The size of pigtail catheter, drainage volume and duration of...

Six patients (3 females, 3 males, mean age 60 years) with a total of 8 septic joints treated were included. These joints included 3 knees, 3 shoulders and 2 hips. Sysyemic antibiotic therapy were used in all cases. Technical success rate was 100%. No immediate or delayed complications occurred throughout the period of catheter placement. A 7-8 Fr pigtail catheter was used for septic joint drainage in each case. Mean drainage volume was 325ml and mean catheter placement duration was 8.6 days. Clinical response with...

Ultrasound-guided percutaneous aspiration and drainage of septic arthritis is a safe and one of the alternative treatment options for selected patients with septic arthritis. Our study involved three large joints: knee, hip and shoulder. Furtherstudies may be needed to evaluate the feasibility of drainage catheter placement in smaller joints.

1Renner, J. and Agee, M. (1990). Treatment of suppurative arthritis by percutaneous catheter drainage. American Journal of Roentgenology, 154(1), pp.135-138. 2de Witte, M., van Overhagen, H., Hamming, J. and Laméris, J. (1996). Percutaneous drainage of septic glenohumoral arthritis. European Journal of Radiology, 22(2), pp.158-160.