J Korean Shoulder Elbow Soc.  2010 Jun;13(1):99-105.

The Surgical Treatment of Pyogenic and Tubercular Infection in the Sternoclavicular Joint: Case Report

• Kim YY
• Kwon JB
• Lee YS
• Kim SI
• Ji JH

Abstract

PURPOSE
Here we report clinical results for surgical treatment of 2 cases of pyogenic arthritis and 1 case of tubercular arthritis, which only rarely develops in the sternoclavicular joint.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
From September 2003 to September 2008, we did early marginal resection and thorough debridement of osteomyelitis of the sternum and distal clavicle in 3 patients and evaluated clinical results after short-term follow up.
RESULTS
All 3 patients were satisfied with their clinical results and none had any recurrences according to follow up X-rays and laboratory datas. The follow up MRI showed bone edema in the distal clavicle and proximal sternum and a little fluid retention around the sternoclavicular joint.
CONCLUSION
Even though diagnosis of these diseases are made earlier, infection of the adjacent bone and osteomyelitis could already have developed. We did early marginal resection and thorough debridement of osteomyelitis of the sternum and distal clavicle and achieved satisfactory results.

Keyword

Sternoclavicular joint; Pyogenic arthritis; Tubercular arthritis; Marginal resection; Debridement

MeSH Terms

Arthritis
Clavicle
Debridement
Edema
Follow-Up Studies
Humans
Osteomyelitis
Recurrence
Retention (Psychology)
Sternoclavicular Joint
Sternum