Clinical Results after Arthroscopic Treatment of Septic Shoulder with Proximal Bone Involvement

If osteomyelitis is confined to the proximal humerus, arthroscopic debridement with multiple punctures at the infected bone might be sufficient to eradicate the septic shoulder with bone involvement.

From 2005 to 2017, 15 patients received arthroscopic debridement with multiple punctures. We included patients with septic shoulder arthritis with proximal bone involvement and excluded patients with glenohumeral joint destruction or extension of bone involvement to the diaphysis of the humerus. We performed multiple punctures for drainage of proximal humerus after complete arthroscopic debridement of septic soft tissue. Infection laboratory studies and postoperative magnetic resonance image were evaluated. For clinical outcome measurements, range of motion, pain visual analog scale, functional visual analog scale, American shoulder elbow surgeon scores, constant scores, and simple shoulder test were evaluated.

There were 11 males and 4 females with a mean age of 53 years (range 28-73 years). Mean follow-up was 32 months (range 12-115 months). There was no reinfection case. The postoperative C-reactive protein levels were normalized in all. The postoperative magnetic resonance image showed no bony involvement of the proximal humerus in all patients except one patient. The clinical scores and range of motion were significantly improved postoperatively. Six patients underwent secondary surgery for rotator cuff tear at a mean time period of 25 months (range 4-104 months) from the index period.

Septic shoulder with proximal bone involvement can be successfully treated with arthroscopic debridement with multiple punctures.

Level IV, treatment study.