Diferenciación de sinovitis transitoria y artritis séptica de cadera con criterios clínicos y ecográficos

Transient synovitis of the hip: Development and validation of a new diagnostic algorithm

AIM

To develop and validate an algorithm to rapidly distinguish transient synovitis (TS) of the hip from differential diagnoses without additional tests.

METHODS

This retrospective cohort study included all children admitted for non-traumatic limping in the emergency department at Lille University-Hospital between 2016 and 2020. The gold standard was a definitive diagnosis at follow-up visit. All variables associated with acute limping in children were analysed in univariate and multivariable analyses. An algorithm was then developed using recursive partitioning and validated internally on a subset of patients.

RESULTS

There were 995 patients included (mean age 5.3 years; males 63%); 337 had a TS including 210 confirmed at follow-up visit and 354 another diagnosis. After multivariable analysis, the relevant variables for distinguishing between TS and differential diagnoses were: age 3-10 years, absence of fever, absence of local inflammation, sudden onset of limping on awakening. An algorithm combining these variables was developed (n = 297) and validated internally (n = 175) for children >12 months with limping for ≤10 days, with a specificity of 98.2% and a positive likelihood ratio of 19.6. No serious differential diagnoses were missed.

CONCLUSION

Use of this algorithm enables the diagnosis of TS without additional tests and without missing serious differential diagnoses.

Clinical presentation and treatment of septic arthritis in children

INTRODUCTION

The aim of this study is to determine the epidemiological features, clinical presentation, and treatment of children with septic arthritis.

MATERIAL AND METHOD

A retrospective review was conducted on a total of 141 children with septic arthritis treated in Hospital Universitario La Paz (Madrid) between the years 2000 to 2013. The patient data collected included, the joint affected, the clinical presentation, the laboratory results, the appearance, Gram stain result, and the joint fluid culture, as well as the imaging tests and the treatment.

RESULTS

Most (94%) of the patients were less than 2 years-old. The most common location was the knee (52%), followed by the hip (21%). The septic arthritis was confirmed in 53%. No type of fever was initially observed in 49% of them, and 18% had an ESR (mm/h) or CRP (mg/l) less than 30 in the initial laboratory analysis. The joint fluid was purulent in 45% and turbid in 12%. The Gram stain showed bacteria in 4%. The fluid culture was positive in 17%. Staphylococcus aureus was the most common pathogen found, followed by Streptococcus agalactiae, Streptococcus pneumoniae, and Kingella kingae. Antibiotic treatment was intravenous administration for 7 days, followed by 21 days orally. Surgery was performed in 18% of cases.

CONCLUSIONS

The diagnosis was only confirmed in 53% of the patients. Some of the confirmed septic arthritis did not present with the classical clinical/analytical signs, demonstrating that the traumatologist or paediatrician requires a high initial level of clinical suspicion of the disease.

Hip pain in the paediatric age group - transient synovitis versus septic arthritis

Hip pain, in the paediatric population, is a common complaint and a cause for admission. There are several diagnoses one has to keep in mind, when making the differential diagnosis, as the treatment for each can be quite different. Often, the radiographs obtained for these patients turn up normal. Hence one has to rely on clinical findings, laboratory parameters, and possibly an ultrasound investigation in order to clinch the diagnosis and initiate the appropriate treatment.

KEY WORDS

Paediatric, hip, pain, normal radiographs.