Kocher et al. classified children with septic arthritis or transient synovitis of the hip based on clinical and laboratory findings. The authors are from Children's Hospital at Harvard Medical School.
Parameters:
(1) white blood cell (WBC) count in joint aspirate
(2) culture of joint aspirate
(3) culture of blood
(4) additional clinical findings
WBC Count in Joint Aspirate
Culture Result
Diagnosis
NA
positive joint aspirate culture
true (definite) septic arthritis
>= 50,000 per µL
positive blood culture
true (definite) septic arthritis
>= 50,000 per µL
negative blood and joint culture
presumed septic arthritis
< 50,000 per µL
negative blood and joint culture
transient synovitis
Additional clinical findings for transient synovitis:
(1) resolution of symptoms without antimicrobial therapy
(2) no further disease progression (no further development of a disease process)
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