Journals / Harran Üniversitesi Tıp Fakültesi Dergisi / 2026 / Cilt: 23 Sayı: 3

Bilateral Septic Arthritis After Intra-articular Hyaluronic Acid Injection

Eklem İçi Hyaluronik Asit Enjeksiyonundan Sonra Gelişen Bilateral Septik Artrit

Bertan Cem Yavaşoğlu(ISTANBUL MEDIPOL UNIVERSITY, SCHOOL OF MEDICINE, DEPARTMENT OF SURGICAL MEDICAL SCIENCES, DEPARTMENT OF ORTHOPAEDICS AND TRAUMATOLOGY)0009-0003-9742-5784
Mehmet Kürşat Yılmaz(ISTANBUL MEDIPOL UNIVERSITY, SCHOOL OF MEDICINE, DEPARTMENT OF SURGICAL MEDICAL SCIENCES, DEPARTMENT OF ORTHOPAEDICS AND TRAUMATOLOGY)0000-0002-6398-281X
Yasemin Begüm Topkarcı(GAZI UNIVERSITY, SCHOOL OF MEDICINE, MEDICINE PR.)0000-0002-4661-6009
İbrahim Azboy(ISTANBUL MEDIPOL UNIVERSITY, SCHOOL OF MEDICINE, DEPARTMENT OF SURGICAL MEDICAL SCIENCES, DEPARTMENT OF ORTHOPAEDICS AND TRAUMATOLOGY)0000-0003-0926-3029
Pages
490–495
Publication Date
2026-09-21
DOI
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AI Summary & Key Takeaways

AI Insight
⚡ TL;DR(Too Long; Didn't Read)

Persistent or recurrent symptoms should prompt repeated microbiological evaluation and timely surgical reassessment.

📌 3 Key Takeaways

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Objective & Hypothesis:Osteoarthritis (OA) is a widespread chronic condition, predominantly affecting the knees.
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Key Findings & Data:We present a rare case of a 52-year-old male patient who developed bilateral septic arthritis of the knees following bilateral hyaluronic acid injections, which appears to be one of the first reported cases to our knowledge.
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Conclusion & Impact:Persistent or recurrent symptoms should prompt repeated microbiological evaluation and timely surgical reassessment.
🔬Design:Olgu Sunumu
📍Scope:Comprehensive Sample
⚙️Variables:Diz · Enfeksiyon · Tanısal mikrobiyoloji

Abstract

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a widespread chronic condition, predominantly affecting the knees. Although intra-articular hyaluronic acid injections are widely used as a conservative treatment for OA, they carry potential risks, including septic arthritis. However, bilateral iatrogenic septic arthritis is extremely rare. We present a rare case of a 52-year-old male patient who developed bilateral septic arthritis of the knees following bilateral hyaluronic acid injections, which appears to be one of the first reported cases to our knowledge. Following the procedure, the patient experienced severe pain, swelling, and fever. Joint aspiration was performed and provided temporary relief. However, recurrent symptoms required multiple surgical interventions and prolonged antibiotic therapy. Diagnostic evaluation showed that the synovial fluid contained Enterobacter cloacae and elevated white blood cell counts. The symptoms persisted after treatment, requiring further debridements. Subsequently, oxacillin-resistant Staphylococcus haemolyticus was identified. This sequential microbiological profile may suggest superinfection, repeated procedural contamination, or nosocomial acquisition during treatment. The patient improved post-operatively, with decreased pain and increased mobility. This case highlights the importance of aseptic techniques during intra-articular injections, careful monitoring for signs of infection, and the role of joint aspiration in diagnosis and treatment. Persistent or recurrent symptoms should prompt repeated microbiological evaluation and timely surgical reassessment.

Özet

Osteoartrit, özellikle dizleri etkileyen sık görülen bir kronik hastalıktır. İntraartiküler hyaluronik asit enjeksiyonları osteoartrit tedavisinde sık kullanılan konservatif yöntemlerden biridir ancak septik artrit gibi komplikasyon riskleri taşır. Bilateral iyatrojenik septik artrit ise son derece nadirdir. Bu makalede, bilateral hyaluronik asit enjeksiyonları sonrası dizlerinde bilateral septik artrit gelişen 52 yaşındaki erkek hastamızın olgusu sunulmaktadır. Bildiğimiz kadarıyla literatürde bildirilen ilk vakalardan biridir. İşlem sonrası şiddetli ağrı, şişlik ve ateş gelişmiş, aspirasyonla geçici düzelme sağlanmıştır. Ancak, semptomların tekrarlaması üzerine çoklu cerrahi girişimler ve daha uzun süreli antibiyotik tedavisi gerekmiştir. Tanısal incelemelerde sinovyal sıvıda Enterobacter cloacae ve yüksek beyaz küre sayısı saptanmıştır. Tedaviye rağmen semptomlar devam etmiş ve tekrar debridman gerekmiştir. Daha sonraki dönemde oksasilin-dirençli Staphylococcus haemolyticus izole edilmiştir. Bu ardışık mikrobiyolojik profil, tedavi sırasında süperenfeksiyon, tekrarlayan işlem kontaminasyonu veya hastane kaynaklı enfeksiyon olasılığını gösterebilir. Cerrahi sonrası hastada ağrı azalmış, hareket kabiliyeti artmıştır. Bu olgu, intraartiküler enjeksiyonlarda aseptik tekniklerin önemini, enfeksiyon bulgularına karşı dikkatli olunması gerektiğini ve tanı ile tedavide eklem aspirasyonunun değerini vurgulamaktadır. Kalıcı veya tekrarlayan semptomlar, tekrarlayan mikrobiyolojik değerlendirme ve zamanında cerrahi yeniden değerlendirme yapılmasını gerektirmelidir.

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Cite This Article

Yavaşoğlu, B. C., Yılmaz, M. K., Topkarcı, Y. B., Azboy, İ. (2026). Bilateral Septic Arthritis After Intra-articular Hyaluronic Acid Injection. Harran Üniversitesi Tıp Fakültesi Dergisi, Cilt: 23 Sayı: 3, 490–495. https://ajindex.com/articles/1080790

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