clinical features

Last reviewed 05/2023

In a child, septic arthritis usually affects the hip. In adults the knee is most often affected.

Local features include:

• overlying skin is red and warm
• swollen, painful joint
• pain on movement - movements are always diminished and often absent if the joint is rigid due to pain and spasm

General features include tachycardia and swinging pyrexia.

Note:

• may present as irritability in children
• more than one joint may be involved

Widespread septic arthritis in a newborn, caused by septicaemia, is called Tom Smith's arthritis.