How can hip septic arthritis be differentiated from toxic synovitis?

Authors: Alexander J. Shope, Aresh Hashemi-Nejad

RECOMMENDATION: Currently, there is no single diagnostic test or step that can be performed in order to distinguish a patient with a septic hip from one with toxic synovitis non-invasively. Although algorithms have been created to aid in clinical decision making, there is not enough evidence to support their generalization across all populations, therefore, more research still needs to be conducted before they can be fully validated. Clinical reasoning, evaluation and judgment should still be the standard for which physicians make the distinction between these pathologies as they care for their patients.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Limited

DELEGATE VOTE: Agree: 88%, Disagree: 3%, Abstain: 9% (Super Majority, Strong Consensus)

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