Child health · UKMLA & AKT
Septic arthritis
A free high-yield preview for the UKMLA Applied Knowledge Test, covering how to recognise this condition. The full SA Note notes add investigations, management and complications, with practice questions on this topic.
Key high-yield points
- Infection of the synovium and joint space - a true orthopaedic emergency in children
- Most common in children under 4 years; boys > girls
- Most commonly affected joint: knee (~50%), then hip, shoulder, ankle, wrist
- Most common organism: Staphylococcus aureus at any age
- Other organisms by context:
- Streptococcus pyogenes (Group A strep) - second most common in children
- Neisseria gonorrhoeae - sexually active teenagers; may be polyarticular
- Escherichia coli / Gram-negatives - neonates and immunocompromised
Unlock the full Septic arthritis revision
Get the complete high-yield notes (5 more sections covering investigations, management and complications), practice questions, mock exams and Sal, the AI tutor. Start free.