Septic arthritis of adult hip treated by total hip replacement--a case report.

Septic arthritis is usually seen in children as an acute febrile illness induced by septicemia, local inoculation of a joint caused by trauma or adjacent osteomyelitis. It also occurs in adults particulary those with debilitating disease or sepsis at other sites. It normally happens in knee joints, but rarely in hip joints. A 65-year-old patient suffered from hip pain and febrile episodes intermittently for two months. Diagnostic hip aspiration was performed with 60 ml pus drained. The aspirate grew Staphylococcus aureus. Hip arthrotomy was performed with extensive debridement. Eighteen months later, this patient received total hip replacement and he has remained well for 8 years, with no evidence of infection or of implants loosening.