Background:

septic arthritis is a devastating disease, which may cause functional impairment and sometimes the patient´s death, the knee joint is one of the most affected. Objective: to update the knowledge about septic arthritis of the knee.

Methods:

a search in the databases PubMed, Hinari, SciELO and Medline was done through the information locator EndNote by using the words septic arthritis of the knee, knee septic arthritis, and septic arthritis, resulting in a total of 953 articles, 50 of them were selected for review, 48 of them of the last five years and eight books were included.

Development:

risk factors in adults and children were exposed. The most common organisms causing septic arthritis were shown, as well as the way to reach synovial tissue. The main Clinical, imaging, histology and microbiology manifestation were pointed out. Advantages of arthroscopic treatment over arthrotomy were stated. Factors related to poor prognosis and complications were exposed.

Conclusions:

septic arthritis of the knee needs an early diagnosis to begin treatment as soon as possible. Arthroscopic treatment is better than arthrotomy in regards to articular function and esthetics.

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