Vocal cord palsy as a presenting feature of sternoclavicular joint septic arthritis

Sternoclavicular joint septic arthritis (SSA) is rare and often difficult to manage condition. The sternoclavicular joint is an unusual site of septic arthritis in healthy persons, but may be commonly involved in intravenous drug users, primary or secondary immunosuppressive disorders, infections or the presence of infected central lines. After thorough literature search, no cases have yet been reported on SSA leading to vocal cord palsy. The following case describes a male patient who presented to hospital with left vocal cord palsy and symptoms consistent with aero-digestive tract malignancy. Radiological examination and subsequent response to treatment demonstrated the only causative pathology to be an ipsilateral septic sternoclavicular joint.