Septic arthritis of the shoulder joint: an analysis of management and outcome

We retrospectively reviewed the records of 21 patients (23 shoulders) who underwent surgical treatment for septic arthritis of the shoulder joint, between 2000 and 2007. Patients were on average 63.7 (41-85) years old; they were treated either by arthroscopic debridement (12 shoulders) or by combined arthroscopic and open procedures (11 shoulders). The mean duration of symptoms prior to surgery was 16 (5-76) days. The mean Constant score recorded at the last follow-up - on average 353 months (25-43) after surgery - was 73 (46-82) points. Patients with symptoms for two weeks or less prior to surgery had better results and a lower re-operation rate than those with symptoms longer than two weeks. Early infection can be managed arthroscopically, and satisfactory results can be expected. In advanced infection, a more radical approach is more appropriate.