Septic arthritis of the neonatal hip is a very rare pathology. The clinical features may be different from those associated with older children, resulting in diagnostic challenges. Delay in instituting treatment, especially in neonates could be associated with severe dysfunction and deformity in a significant number of affected children. Therefore, treatment should be prompt and comprise broad-spectrum intravenous antibiotic therapy, surgical drainage, and general supportive care. The index patient is a 3-week-old neonate who had left hip arthrotomy on account of septic arthritis. The aim of this report is to highlight the challenges encountered in the diagnosis of septic arthritis of the hip in this patient.
Keywords: Challenges; diagnosis; hip; neonate; septic arthritis.