Sternoclavicular brucellar arthritis: a report of 7 cases and a review of the literature.
OBJECTIVE
To describe the clinical features of sternoclavicular arthritis.


METHODS
Medical records review of patients with sternoclavicular brucellar arthritis diagnosed and treated in a University Hospital in Lima, Peru.


RESULTS
Over a 21-year period, 1,729 cases of brucellosis were diagnosed and treated. Seven patients with sternoclavicular arthritis were identified; 5 had an acute course with current or past evidence of systemic infection. Four patients had involvement of another joint and one of the 7 developed a chest wall abscess. All patients recovered without sequelae.


CONCLUSIONS
Recovery without sequelae is expected if patients with sternoclavicular brucellar arthritis are promptly diagnosed and treated.
Department of Medicine (Rheumatology), Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, Lima.
A
A
Berrocal
E
E
Gotuzzo
A
A
Calvo
C
C
Carrillo
O
O
Castañeda
G S
GS
Alarcón
D000328:Adult; D001170:Arthritis, Infectious / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D002006:Brucellosis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013247:Sternoclavicular Joint