Zeitschrift für Orthopädie und ihre Grenzgebiete
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Ultrasonography helps in early diagnosis of septic arthritis in children with painful hip with high sedimentation rate and raised c-reactive protein. Native radiology and technetium bone scan are helpful in the diagnosis of coxitis only with a delay of several days. Successful therapy must consist of emergency arthrotomy and effective chemotherapy with tested antibiotics. Delayed surgical intervention risks femoral neck necrosis and coxa vara in small children, major ankylosis in the adolescent.