title: Surgical management of sternoclavicular septic arthritis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Septic arthritis of the sternoclavicular joint (SCJ) is a rare condition and has many diagnostic and therapeutic standards. The purpose of this study was to evaluate our experience with surgical and diagnostic management to provide a surgical pathway to help surgeons treat this disease.
  
  
  METHODS
  We retrospectively reviewed five patients who were managed surgically between 1999 and 2007. All patients underwent structured diagnostic and treatment protocols. The functional outcome was evaluated using the Constant Score.
  
  
  METHODS
  The patients had the following underlying medical conditions: laryngeal cancer, port-explantation linked to a rectum carcinoma, spondylodiscitis, and brain stem infarct with reduced general condition; one patient had no underlying medical problems. Three patients underwent a simple incision, debridement and drainage, and two patients underwent an extended intervention with partial resection of the sternoclavicular joint. The mean duration of follow-up was 29 months (range 24-36 months). All patients had well-healed wounds without signs of reinfection. The Constant Score for the functional outcome at the time of the last follow-up was 76 points (range 67-93 points). All patients recovered completely from SCJ disease.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our recommendations for the management of septic arthritis of the sternoclavicular joint include standard treatment steps and assessments. The early stages of infection can be managed by simple incision, debridement and drainage. In advanced stages of infection, a more radical intervention is preferable.
authors: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of Goettingen Medical Centre (UMG), Georg-August-University, Robert-Koch-Str. 40, 37075, Göttingen, Germany. dr.nusselt@gmx.net
authors: Thomas
authors: T
authors: Nusselt
authors: Hans-Michael
authors: HM
authors: Klinger
authors: Sven
authors: S
authors: Freche
authors: Wolfgang
authors: W
authors: Schultz
authors: Mike H
authors: MH
authors: Baums
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001170:Arthritis, Infectious / Q000382:microbiology / Q000601:surgery*; D015897:Comorbidity; D003646:Debridement; D004322:Drainage; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013247:Sternoclavicular Joint / Q000382:microbiology / Q000601:surgery*; D016896:Treatment Outcome