Osteomyelitis of scapula with secondary septic arthritis of shoulder joint in a six month old child.
We report a case of delayed diagnosis of osteomyelitis of the scapula extending to glenoid, with secondary septic arthritis of glenohumeral joint in a 6-month-old female infant. We performed urgent arthrotomy of the shoulder joint through an anterior approach with drainage of pus from the scapula through a posterior approach and prescribed intravenous antibiotics. Diagnosis was delayed as the patient initially presented with pneumonia, for which she was treated in the neonatal intensive care unit; at that time, all medical efforts were directed toward saving her life. Had the diagnosis been made earlier, septic arthritis of the shoulder might have been prevented. Diagnosis of septic shoulder arthritis is rare and difficult, requiring a high index of suspicion.


BACKGROUND
septic arthritis, infection, scapular osteomyelitis.
Department of Orthopaedics, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India.
Sanjay
S
Meena
Department of Emergency Medicine, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India.
Mohammed Tahir
MT
Ansari