Osteoarthritis in the neonate: risk factors and outcome

Objectives: The aim of this study was to identify the clinical, radiological, and bacteriological features, risk factors, and outcome of neonates with bone and joint infections. Study design: Observational, retrospective, and analytical study of 77 patients less than 2 months of age, admitted to a tertiary neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) with the diagnosis of bone or joint infection, based on clinical, radiological, and microbiological criteria. Results: Seventy-seven patients with 99 acute osteoarthritis foci in a 16 year period were included in the study. Risk factors for infection could be identified in 69% of the patients. The hip was the most frequent. Staphylococcus aureus was the main isolated microorganism. Twenty-nine infants (38%) had sequelae. Hip involvement, culture positive, and Staphylococcus aureus isolation were risk factors associated with sequelae. Conclusion: Osteoarticular infection is unusual in the neonate; however it is associated with an elevated incidence of sequelae. This mandates for a high degree of suspicion to diagnose this potentially disabling entity. Keywords: osteoarthritis, neonate, Staphylococcus aureus