The rational use of a local scoring system to differentiate between septic arthritis and transient synovitis in children

Abstract EN

In order to study the specificity and the sensitivity of a locally produced scoring system to differentiate between septic arthritis and transient sinusitis at initial presenta¬tion, the records of 33 cases of irritable hip, 24 males and nine females, in the Pediatric departments of King Hussein Medical Center and Prince Rashid Military Hospital, Jor¬dan, were reviewed retrospectively.

Septic arthritis was di¬agnosed in nine patients all of whom scored nine or above; none were missed with false low scores.

The sensitivity and specificity for this local scoring system were calculated to be 100 % and 91.66 % respectively.

The positive predictive value was 81.81 %.

Conclusion : There is a significant overlap in the tem¬perature; erythrocyte sedimentation rate and WBC count in children with toxic sinusitis and septic arthritis of the hip.

We found our local scoring system useful in predict¬ing the patients at high or moderate risk of septic arthritis thus avoiding unnecessary invasive investigations and un¬justified prolonged admissions and antimicrobial treatment.