Septic Arthritis

Kocher’s Criteria

Predictors associated with risk of Septic Arthritis

1. Fever
2. Non-weight-bearing
3. ESR = 40 or more
4. Serum WBC = 12,000 or more

Probability of Septic Arthritis based on number of Predictors

• 0 Predictors – <0.2 %
• 1 Predictor – 3.0%
• 2 Predictors – 40.0%
• 3 Predictors – 93.1%
• 4 Predictors – 99.6%

Use this information wisely… not blindly.