Capsule as a barrier

By Marnix van Holsbeeck, MD

When asked to aspirate this hip, we pointed out that the psoas abscess in this Crohn’s patient (marked 1 +) was located around the capsule and not within the capsule. Tissues outside the capsule (arrow up) — tissues in the joint capsule (arrow down).

Aspiration of the hip therefore would risk joint contamination. The abscess was then surgically drained.

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