Vol. 10, Issue 1 (2024)

Introduction: Septic arthritis (SMA) of the knee is a serious functional and life-threatening emergency. The objective of our study was to evaluate the surgical treatment of SMA of the knee at the University Hospital of Brazzaville.

Materials and Methods: Our retrospective study, from January 1, 2018 to December 31, 2023, was conducted at the Brazzaville University Hospital, in the Traumatology-Orthopedics department. Local inflammatory and laboratory signs led to the diagnosis of SMA. Thirty-eight patients over 18 years of age, with operated knee septic arthritis, were included. Twenty-six men and 12 women were collected. The mean age was 44.34 years (range 18 to 76 years). Thirteen patients were immunocompromised, four of whom were HIV-positive. The mean time to surgery was 11.32 days (range: 1 to 31 days). Surgical arthrotomy was performed after an internal parapatellar incision. The Gächter stage was used for the assessment of the evolutionary stage. The subjective International Knee Documentation Committee (IKDC) scale was used for functional assessment.

Results: The mean follow-up was 33.4 months (range 3 to 62 months) and the mean length of hospital stay was 31.78 days (range 7 to 47 days). Cure of knee SMA was achieved at the last follow-up in 36 patients (94.74%). The mean subjective IKDC score was 87.36 (range: 72 to 98) with a significantly higher score at the last follow-up when the Gächter stage was lower (p=0.000007). Ankylosis of the knee was noted (2.63%) and one death was reported (2.63%).

Conclusion: Surgical treatment of knee SMA, well indicated and well conducted, allows healing without sequelae. The time it takes to take care of patients determines good results.