radiology of acute septic arthritis
Last reviewed 01/2018
The radiological appearance of joints in acute septic arthritis is normal for the first 2 to 3 weeks of the condition. After this initial period, radiology may reveal patchy rarefaction and a narrowed joint space. A healed infection may cause, with bone recalcification, the joint space to become completely obliterated - bony ankylosis.
In the hip, one of the most frequent sites for attack, the femoral head may appear to be completely absent.