NEONATAL SEPTIC ARTHRITIS IN A MALE NEONATE FOLLOWING LOCAL TRADITIONAL CIRCUMCISION IN NORTH CENTRAL NIGERIA: A CASE REPORT.

Abstract

Septic arthritis is a bacterial infection of the joint space with the potential to cause damage or deformity of the joint, which is rarely reported in neonates. Bacterial organisms acquired via haematogenous spread from a remote location are mostly implicated, with large joints of the lower limbs being the most affected in a monoarticular form. This is a case report of a twenty-two-day old term male neonate BS, who presented with fever, penile shaft infection following traditional surgical circumcision and progressive left knee swelling associated with limitation of movement. Surgical drainage of the arthritic purulent collection and culture-guided antibiotics treatment resulted in a remarkable improvement and an uneventful clinical course. This case is being reported
to draw attention to the persistence of local traditional surgical practitioners in our community and the potential health hazards associated with their practice.