Milwaukee shoulder syndrome: an acutely swollen joint

Milwaukee shoulder syndrome (MSS) is a rare crystal arthropathy associated with rapid joint destruction and notable morbidity.A female in her 80s presented to a district general hospital with a 2-week history of acute-on-chronic left shoulder pain. Examination revealed widespread left shoulder reduced range of movement, and plain X-ray and CT imaging showed global left humeral head destruction with a large joint effusion. Once other differentials, including septic arthritis and osteosarcoma, had been excluded, this patient was managed conservatively with analgesia, physiotherapy and a collar and cuff sling.Literature regarding MSS is scarce, and awareness of this diagnosis is even more so. But with the impact of reduced joint function on independence and quality of life, this syndrome is not one to miss. This case report aims to educate the reader about the importance of MSS as a rare differential in an acutely swollen, painful joint.