An Unusual Cause of Shoulder Pain: Sternoclavicular Joint Septic Arthritis

Septic arthritis of the sternoclavicular joint (SCJ) is an uncommon location of septic joint infection and is often a diagnostic challenge. Patients may present with insidious, vague symptoms, such as chest pain or shoulder pain, and imaging modalities are often nonspecific, leading to a delay in diagnosis and treatment. We present a case of a young male patient initially presenting with right shoulder pain, but who then returned days later and was diagnosed with SCJ septic arthritis. This patient was treated successfully with SCJ resection and intravenous antibiotics. This case illustrates the difficulty in diagnosing SCJ septic arthritis and how early surgical intervention and medical management can prevent further serious complications.