The Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery, Vol 74, Issue 2 278-284, Copyright © 1992 by Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery, Inc
Primary pyogenic abscess of the psoas muscle
R Malhotra, KD Singh, S Bhan and PK Dave
Department of Orthopaedics, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India.
Nine children who were less than nine years old and had a primary pyogenic
abscess of the psoas muscle were treated in a five-year period. This rare
lesion often simulated septic arthritis of the hip. Ultrasonography was
found to be the most reliable and easily performed diagnostic study.
Because of the rarity of the lesion, the diagnosis requires a high index of
suspicion. The best treatment is early operative drainage and
administration of systemic antibiotics.