Septic arthritis of the hip as a late complication of radiation therapy: A case report and review of literature

摘要

Septic arthritis of the adult hip is an uncommon condition, usually presenting in the setting of direct or local contamination next to a nearby abscess, or following acute septicemia. Local risk factors include preexisting inflammatory or non-inflammatory arthritis and aseptic necrosis. Septic arthritis in a hip that has been previously irradiated is very rare and to our knowledge has been reported only three times in the English literature. We present an 83 year old man with septic arthritis of the hip joint that appeared two months following irradiation of the same hip. This patient was treated successfully by surgical drainage and antibiotherapy. Radiation therapy seems to be a risk factor for septic arthritis and positive history of irradiation should raise its possibility.