We report the case of a 73-year-old lady who was seen with an infected sinus leaking from the wound of a recently inserted right total hip joint prosthesis. Plain radiographs revealed gas shadows in the region of the wound. An intra-operative sinogram showed the sinus to be coming from a pelvic diverticular abscess and the hip to be an innocent bystander. Our case emphasises the importance of having a clear preoperative plan with relevant investigations before a radical operative procedure is undertaken, to avoid unnecessary risk to a non-infected hip prosthesis.
RidgewayS., WilsonJ., CharletA., KafatosG., PearsonA., CoelloR.Infection of the surgical site after arthroplasty of the hip.J Bone Joint Surg Br2005; 87: 844–50.
2.
SchneiderH.J., MuftiG.R.Vesico-acetabular fistula after total hip replacement.Br J Urol1993; 71: 754.
3.
LevinJ.S., RodriguezA.A., LuongK.Fistula between the hip and the sigmoid colon after total hip arthroplasty. A case report.J Bone Joint Surg Am1997; 79: 1240–2.
4.
MessiehM., TurnerR., BunchF., CarrierS.Hip sepsis from retroperitoneal rupture of diverticular disease.Orthop Rev1993; 22: 597–9.
5.
JohnsonM.B., DoigS.G.Fistula between the hip and a diverticular abscess after revision hip replacement.Aust N Z J Surg2000; 70: 80–2.
