Journal of Education and Teaching in Emergency Medicine

Septic arthritis of native joints is uncommon, but the condition can be threatening to life and limb if left untreated.1 Septic arthritis of the acromioclavicular (AC) joint of the shoulder is particularly rare and has only appeared sparsely in medical literature, mainly through individual case reports. Early recognition and treatment of the condition is vital, but diagnosis of septic AC arthritis can be difficult due to its presentation with vague symptoms and nonspecific laboratory findings. This case report describes the care of a patient with poorly managed diabetes who presented to the emergency department with one month of pain and swelling of the left shoulder and two weeks of pain and swelling in the right ankle. Imaging revealed fluid in the AC joint, and laboratory evaluation showed an elevation in inflammatory markers, including leukocyte count, C-reactive protein (CRP), and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR). The patient’s hospital course was complicated by methicillin-sensitive Staphylococcus Aureus bacteremia without evidence of sepsis. The patient underwent open debridement and washout of both the ankle and AC joint without complication. After recovery, the patient was discharged to a rehabilitative center with IV antibiotics and weekly follow up care with infectious disease specialists. This case illustrates the importance of early diagnosis and treatment of septic arthritis, even in less common joint spaces, to prevent progression of this dangerous disease.

Topics: Septic arthritis, acromioclavicular joint, diabetes, bacteremia.