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Original ArticleOpen Access
Clinical Features of Septic Arthritis of Sternoclavicular Joint
Akkasilpa S 
,
Osiri M ,
Ukritchon S ,
Junsirimongkol B ,
Deesomchok U
,
Osiri M ,
Ukritchon S ,
Junsirimongkol B ,
Deesomchok U MANATHIP OSIRI, M.D.*,
BOONEK JUNSIRIMONGKOL, M.D.*,
We studied 21 patients with septic arthritis of the sternoclavicular joint at Chula-
longkorn University Hospital between January 1987 and January 1997. There were 15 males
(71.4%) and 6 females (28.6%). The mean age was 47.4 years with a range of 16 to 69. More
than half of the patients (57 .1%) were aged more than 50 years and most had associated
diseases including diabetes mellitus and cirrhosis. Almost all of the younger age group had a
history of intravenous drug abuse. All of the patients had fever and sternoclavicular joint pain.
Most of the patients (66.7%) had monoarticular arthritis, whereas, the others had oligoarticular
arthritis.
Staphylococcus aureus
was the most commonly or identified organism in the patients.
Retrostemal abscess was seen by computerized tomography in 6 patients (28.6% ). All patients
received parenteral antibiotics, and 5 patients (23.8%) required surgical drainage of a retrostemal
abscess. Eighteen patients recovered but there were 3 (14.3%) deaths. All of these had
retrosternal abscesses. The major cause of death was septic shock. Septic arthritis of the
sternoclavicular joint is an uncommon disease in Thai clinical practice. Although uncommon,
retrosternal abscess is a life threatening complication.
Key word : Septic Arthritis, Sternoclavicular Joint, Retrosternal Abscess
BOONEK JUNSIRIMONGKOL, M.D.*,
We studied 21 patients with septic arthritis of the sternoclavicular joint at Chula-
longkorn University Hospital between January 1987 and January 1997. There were 15 males
(71.4%) and 6 females (28.6%). The mean age was 47.4 years with a range of 16 to 69. More
than half of the patients (57 .1%) were aged more than 50 years and most had associated
diseases including diabetes mellitus and cirrhosis. Almost all of the younger age group had a
history of intravenous drug abuse. All of the patients had fever and sternoclavicular joint pain.
Most of the patients (66.7%) had monoarticular arthritis, whereas, the others had oligoarticular
arthritis.
Staphylococcus aureus
was the most commonly or identified organism in the patients.
Retrostemal abscess was seen by computerized tomography in 6 patients (28.6% ). All patients
received parenteral antibiotics, and 5 patients (23.8%) required surgical drainage of a retrostemal
abscess. Eighteen patients recovered but there were 3 (14.3%) deaths. All of these had
retrosternal abscesses. The major cause of death was septic shock. Septic arthritis of the
sternoclavicular joint is an uncommon disease in Thai clinical practice. Although uncommon,
retrosternal abscess is a life threatening complication.
Key word : Septic Arthritis, Sternoclavicular Joint, Retrosternal Abscess
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