Management Protocols for Septic Arthritis in Paediatric Patients at University of Benin Teaching Hospital

Septic arthritis in children is an orthopaedic emergency requiring prompt diagnosis and treatment to prevent irreversible joint destruction, osteonecrosis, and permanent disability. This retrospective audit evaluates the management protocols and clinical outcomes of paediatric septic arthritis cases at the University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH), Edo State, South South Nigeria, over a four-year period. Case records of children under 15 years with confirmed septic arthritis will be reviewed for clinical presentation, joint involved, Kocher criteria adherence, laboratory and imaging findings, time from presentation to surgical drainage, antibiotic regimen, duration of treatment, and functional outcome at three months. The modified Kocher criteria sensitivity and specificity in this population will be assessed. It is hypothesised that delayed surgical drainage beyond 24 hours is significantly associated with poor functional outcomes. Findings will be submitted to the paediatric orthopaedic unit and the hospital's clinical governance committee to establish a standardised management algorithm for paediatric septic arthritis. This research contributes to the limited literature on paediatric septic arthritis management in South South Nigeria, where resource constraints and diagnostic delays remain common challenges. Improving early identification and management of this condition is essential for reducing preventable paediatric joint morbidity. Keywords: septic arthritis, paediatric orthopaedics, Kocher criteria, joint drainage, Benin City.