Corticosteroid Therapy for Persistent Synovitis in Acute Septic Arthritis on Native Joint

Corticosteroid Therapy for Persistent Synovitis in Acute Septic Arthritis on Native Joint

Acute septic arthritis is a rare but life-threatening and functionally serious disease. The improvement or disappearance of pain and functional recovery are sometimes difficult to obtain, with in some cases the persistence of synovitis due to a prolonged local inflammatory response, despite early and effective treatment. The consequences are significant for patients with often significant chronic pain, repercussions on autonomy and/or profession. An unfavorable evolution with joint destruction and need for replacement by a prosthesis is not uncommon.

Corticosteroid therapy is widely used in rheumatology in similar tables, for the purpose of drug synovectomy, with good results. The risk of infection remains the main contraindication to its use.

There are very few studies on its use in septic arthritis, either fundamentally or in humans, for which there are no data in adults. However, these have shown results encouraging the investigators not to neglect this therapy.

Inclusion criteria:

• Adult patient (≥18 years old)
• having presented with septic arthritis and treated at the Strasbourg University Hospital between January 1, 2012 and December 31, 2021
• clinical finding of persistent synovitis, defined by the presence of pain, effusion or joint stiffness despite well-conducted treatment
• having had a diagnosis of joint infection proven by a positive culture of the joint fluid to a pathogenic germ
• having had treatment with local or systemic corticosteroids.

Exclusion criteria:

• Patient who has expressed his opposition to the reuse of his data for scientific research purposes.
• Absence of corticosteroid treatment