5.2. Surgery in osteomyelitis. Open operation or aspiration (continue)
5.2.3. Aspiration in the management of acute
septic joints 
Here the World is very definitely divided with claims made that repeated joint aspiration with appropriate systemic antibiotics can control these severe infections and concomitant joint damage. However, this technique must demand repeated anaesthetics, appropriate joint ‘rest’, and of course very careful clinical surveillance.
In the developing world this aspiration technique seems popular among Paediatricians, and where this is routinely practised by our colleagues Orthopaedic Surgeons may only see the poor results which undoubtedly can occur. Most of us still prefer open exploration, but as yet there is not enough real evidence to decide which method is best. As with so many clinical problems good results are often associated with the close personal attention of an interested clinician.