The purpose of this study was to define the factors affecting results in acute septic hip arthritis in children and to reduce the complications.

This is a retrospective study of 27 children with 28 hip joint infections, treated with arthrotomy and followed up for more than 12 months. Results were evaluated according to Merle D'Aubigne's clinical grade and Bennett's radiological grade, and correlated with the time between symptom onset and treatment, the existence of a causative organism, its species, concomitant osteomyelitis, age of onset and normalized time of C-reactive protein (CRP). We analysed results using the Pearson Chi Square method.

A delay in treatment, concomitant osteomyelitis of the proximal femur and old age, were factors associated with poor prognosis. Normalized time of CRP, the existence of a causative organism and species were not correlated with the treatment results.

Shorter duration of disease from clinical onset to the initiation of therapy and concomitant osteomyelitis of the proximal femur are the most important factors in the treatment of acute septic hip arthritis in children. When analysing results correlated with the age of onset, precise prospective study is required in many cases of acute septic hip arthritis in children.