[Osteoarthritis in the neonate. Radiologic diagnosis and follow-up observations (author's transl)].

A fatally ending index case of septic osteoarthritis that was diagnosed retrospectively initiated this report. This patient had severe, asymmetrically distributed metaphyseal growth disturbances at many long bones. In order to determine the features of early radiologic diagnosis we report the findings of 7 further patients with neonatal septic osteoarthritis with clinical and radiological follow-up. The most important observation for early radiologic diagnosis of osteoarthritis is the displacement of fat layers along the metaphysis. Other findings of the soft tissues have the same diagnostic value as bone destruction and subperiosteal new bone formation found one to three weeks later on roentgenfilms. Detecting early signs of osteoarthritis helps in localizing the focus for bacteriologic diagnosis, which is said to be more successful than blood cultures. Diagnosing a joint empyema initiates surgical intervention for pressure relief in order to avoid necrosis of the epiphysis as seen in the femoral head in septic arthritis of the hip joint. Early diagnosis and treatment prior to destruction of the growing cartilage is necessary to avoid growth disturbances and length discrepancies of long bones. In cases of sepsis a so called "babygram" and a repeat examination 10 to 14 days later is mandatory.