Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this study was to investigate the outcome of arthroscopic debridement with continuous irrigation in patients with septic arthritis of the shoulder joint.
Methods
Ten patients (four men, six women) with septic arthritis of the shoulder joint were treated with a combination of arthroscopic debridement and continuous irrigation. All patients were followed for a minimum of 4 years. The average age was 61.7 years with a range of 25 to 86. The etiology of infection was determined to be a subacromial injection in six cases, EMG needle puncture in one, hematogenous in two, and unknown in one case. Causative bacteria, follow-up period, recurrence, shoulder pain, University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) shoulder score, and radiographic findings were evaluated.
Result
Staphylococcus aureus was cultured in six cases, and Staphylococcus epidermidis, in four cases. The average follow-up period was 103.3 months with a range of 48 to 199. The infection was eradicated completely with a single arthroscopic debridement with continuous irrigation in nine patients. One patient required a second operation. In all patients, severe pain before operation improved. The average UCLA shoulder score increased from 5.7 points prior to the operation to a post-operation score of 26.4 points. In standard radiographic findings, five cases had aggravated osteoarthritis in the affected joint.
Conclusion
This study shows that arthroscopic debridement with continuous irrigation for septic arthritis of the shoulder joint improves shoulder pain, functional scores, and subjective outcome and prevents recurrence in many cases.
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Matsuhashi, T., Suenaga, N., Oizumi, N. et al. Arthroscopic debridement with continuous irrigation for septic arthritis of the shoulder joint. Eur Orthop Traumatol 2, 87–92 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12570-011-0062-x
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12570-011-0062-x