The risk of abscess from sternoclavicular septic arthritis

From a systematic review of the literature on septic arthritis and our own patient records we found that in a high percentage of cases (20% of those we reviewed) infection of the sternoclavicular joint leads to an abscess. This appears to be true regardless of the presence or absence of a history of intravenous drug abuse or underlying illness compromising the immune system, and regardless of the responsible organism. The predisposing factors must center on the joint itself. The risk from spread of infection should be considered in management of the uncommon but difficult clinical problem of sternoclavicular septic arthritis.