Osteoarthritis of the hip in children at the Lome´ Teaching Hospital

Abstract

Objectives The aim of this study was to describe the epidemiological and therapeutic aspects of osteoarthritis of the hip in children, analyze the outcome, and describe the techniques for its diagnosis in a hospital with poor working conditions.
Materials and methods This was a retrospective study including children in the age group of 0–15 years, who were managed for osteoarthritis at the Pediatric Surgery Department of the Lome´ Teaching Hospital (Togo) between July 2000 and June 2008. The data were collated from patients’ records and analyzed for epidemiology, clinical features, treatment, and outcome of osteoarthritis.
Results A total of 30 children were included in this study, of whom 17 (24.4%) were girls and 13 (43.3%) were boys. Their mean age was 4 years (range: 1–15 years). Children in the age range of 0–6 years accounted for 73.33% of patients included. Fifteen patients were of the homozygous sickle cell genotype (SS). Treatment included antibiotic therapy and immobilization of the joint. The outcome was excellent in eight AA patients (26.67%); good in three (10%), including one SS, one AS, and one SC; and fair in 19 patients (63.33%), including 14 SS, four AS, and one SC. The average duration of hospital stay was 18 days (range: 2–35 days).
Conclusion Sickle cell disease (SS genotype) is the predominant cause of osteoarthritis in children presenting to the Pediatric Surgery Department of the Lome´ Teaching Hospital. Early diagnosis and appropriate treatment are necessary for a complete cure.

Keywords: child, hip, osteoarthritis, sickle cell, Togo