Résultats du traitement par voie arthroscopique des arthrites septiques des genoux natifs à Douala
(2026) Journal Africain de Chirurgie Orthopédique et Traumatologique — Vol. 11, n° 1, p. 28-39 (2026)
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- (en) [Outcomes of arthroscopic treatment for septic arthritis of native knees in Douala] INTRODUCTION: The mastery of antibiotic therapy and arthroscopic treatment represents two major advances in the management of septic arthritis. The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical and functional outcomes of arthroscopic treatment of native knee septic arthritis in a Cameroonian hospital. METHODS: This was a cross-sectional study with prospective data collection. Patients underwent surgery between January 2022 and December 2024. Adults with knee septic arthritis were included. All were treated with extensive irrigation and arthroscopic debridement/synovectomy, combined with systemic antibiotic therapy adapted to bacteriological results. The parameters assessed included pain, joint range of motion, erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), C-reactive protein (CRP), reoperation rate, and microbiological features. RESULTS: The study population consisted of 22 patients. The mean age was 28 years. Six patients had sickle cell disease. Staphylococcus aureus was isolated in 10 patients. At a mean follow-up of 6 months, knees were pain-free (n=20), with an average flexion of 118°. CRP and ESR were normalised by the fourth week (n=14). Five patients required repeat arthroscopic procedures, and one patient required conversion to arthrotomy. CONCLUSION: This study shows that arthroscopy combined with early antibiotic therapy allows rapid infection control, good functional recovery, and satisfactory radiological outcomes. Its development in low-resource countries should be encouraged.
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Bombah, F., Kouamé Kouassi, ,. J.-E., Anicet, M., Théophile, N., Handy, E. D., & Cornu, O. (2026). Résultats du traitement par voie arthroscopique des arthrites septiques des genoux natifs à Douala. Journal Africain de Chirurgie Orthopédique et Traumatologique, 11(1), 28-39. https://doi.org/10.59510/9409291 (Original work published 2026)