BACKGROUND: Sternoclavicular joint (SCJ) infections are rare and difficult to manage. Surgery is necessary for treatment. METHODS: A retrospective chart review of the university hospital and Veterans Administration (VA) hospitals of all patients treated for SCJ infections since 2001 was conducted. Fifteen [15] patients were identified and evaluated for the types of infections, risk factors, treatments and survival. RESULTS: All 15 patients were symptomatic including: pain [13], erythema [9], purulent drainage [3], fever greater than 38.3 °C [2], and leukocytosis [9]. The associated medical problems included: diabetes mellitus (DM), hypertension (HTN) and renal failure. All patients underwent intraoperative joint resection. Sixty-seven percent (67%) of intraoperative wound cultures grew staphylococcus aureus. Fourteen patients were discharged on intravenous antibiotics. The follow-up ranged between 1 week-11 months. Thirteen patients are currently alive without infection. Two patients died: 1 of sepsis and 1 of unknown causes after discharge. CONCLUSIONS: Symptomatic SCJ infections require surgical intervention. The most common organism was staphylococcus aureus.
BACKGROUND:Sternoclavicular joint (SCJ) infections are rare and difficult to manage. Surgery is necessary for treatment. METHODS: A retrospective chart review of the university hospital and Veterans Administration (VA) hospitals of all patients treated for SCJ infections since 2001 was conducted. Fifteen [15] patients were identified and evaluated for the types of infections, risk factors, treatments and survival. RESULTS: All 15 patients were symptomatic including: pain [13], erythema [9], purulent drainage [3], fever greater than 38.3 °C [2], and leukocytosis [9]. The associated medical problems included: diabetes mellitus (DM), hypertension (HTN) and renal failure. All patients underwent intraoperative joint resection. Sixty-seven percent (67%) of intraoperative wound cultures grew staphylococcus aureus. Fourteen patients were discharged on intravenous antibiotics. The follow-up ranged between 1 week-11 months. Thirteen patients are currently alive without infection. Two patients died: 1 of sepsis and 1 of unknown causes after discharge. CONCLUSIONS: Symptomatic SCJ infections require surgical intervention. The most common organism was staphylococcus aureus.
Authors: G N Carlos; K A Kesler; J J Coleman; L Broderick; M W Turrentine; J W Brown Journal: J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg Date: 1997-02 Impact factor: 5.209
Authors: Varun Puri; Bryan F Meyers; Daniel Kreisel; G Alexander Patterson; Traves D Crabtree; Richard J Battafarano; Alexander S Krupnick Journal: Ann Thorac Surg Date: 2011-01 Impact factor: 4.330
Authors: Harold M Burkhart; Claude Deschamps; Mark S Allen; Francis C Nichols; Daniel L Miller; Peter C Pairolero Journal: J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg Date: 2003-04 Impact factor: 5.209
Authors: Thomas Nusselt; Hans-Michael Klinger; Sven Freche; Wolfgang Schultz; Mike H Baums Journal: Arch Orthop Trauma Surg Date: 2010-08-20 Impact factor: 3.067
Authors: Shriya B Reddy; Jack Mizelle; Helene M Sterbling; Brenda Lin; Virginia R Litle; Kei Suzuki Journal: J Thorac Dis Date: 2020-10 Impact factor: 2.895
Authors: Elizabeth M Benson; Ezan A Kothari; Timothy W Torrez; Michael J Conklin; Stephanie Berger; Kevin A Williams Journal: J Am Acad Orthop Surg Glob Res Rev Date: 2022-09-27