A comparison between arthrotomy and irrigation and multiple aspirations in the treatment of pyogenic arthritis: a histological study in a rabbit model.

Staphylococcus aureus pyogenic arthritis was produced in a group of eight rabbits. After 24 hours, all rabbits were treated with systemic procaine and benzathine penicillin for five days. Four rabbits were treated with daily aspiration, and four rabbits were treated with arthrotomy and irrigation. A study of the histology of cartilage of the lateral femoral condyle was made in the two groups. Animals treated with aspiration showed a greater degree of thinning of cartilage, acelluiarity, and cloning of chondrocytes than animals treated with arthrotomy and irrigation.