Septic arthritis of the hip after percutaneous femoral artery catheterization

Infection of the hip joint can cause severe articular damage. Standard treatment of septic arthritis includes surgical débridement and intravenous antibiotics. Options for definitive management in the presence of joint destruction include excision arthroplasty, arthrodesis, and total hip arthroplasty. Two cases of septic arthritis of the hip as a complication of femoral artery cannulation are presented. These cases highlight a potential complication that may not be readily appreciated by clinicians who routinely perform femoral vascular cannulation. After all evidence of ongoing infection had disappeared, both cases ultimately were treated with total hip arthroplasty. Both patients have improved function and pain at 2.5 and 5 years of follow-up. Given the frequency with which femoral intravascular catheters are used in numerous procedures, methods of avoiding infection of the hip joint must be implemented. These 2 cases emphasize the potential risks of these procedures and show management with total hip arthroplasty. Copyright 2002, Elsevier Science (USA). All rights reserved.