Sternoclavicular infectious arthritis in previously healthy adults.
OBJECTIVE
To define characteristics of sternoclavicular infection (SCI) in previously healthy patients.


METHODS
SCI in a previously healthy man is reported along with 4 similar cases found by surveying the hospital's database; 22 previously reported cases were culled from the literature and summarized.


RESULTS
The frequency of SCI in healthy adults was 0.5% of all bone and joint infections admitted to the hospital. The clinical and bacteriologic features were similar to previous reports in nonselected SCI patients. Computerized tomography (CT) scan, arthrocenthesis, and biopsy were required for diagnosis. Complications included abscess formation, mediastinitis, and sepsis. The majority of patients were treated by surgical drainage and antibiotics. The final outcome was good, without mortality or long-term morbidity.


CONCLUSIONS
Although SCI is a rare infection in healthy adults, it should be considered in the differential diagnosis of a painful sternoclavicular joint. Prompt diagnosis and appropriate treatment of SCI results in excellent outcome in most cases.
Bar-Natan
Michal
M
Department of Medicine C and Orthopedics and the Rheumatology Unit, The Chaim Sheba Medical Center, Tel Hashomer; and the Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Israel.
Salai
Moshe
M
Sidi
Yechezkel
Y
Gur
Hanan
H
D000890:Anti-Infective Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001170:Arthritis, Infectious / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology*; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006801:Humans; D007557:Israel / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015242:Ofloxacin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D010019:Osteomyelitis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology; D011877:Radionuclide Imaging; D012307:Risk Factors; D013247:Sternoclavicular Joint / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology*
D000890:Anti-Infective Agents; D015242:Ofloxacin