A study published in the August issue of the Journal of the AAOS compares outcomes among patients with shoulder septic arthritis who were treated with arthrocentesis, open irrigation and débridement, or arthroscopic irrigation and débridement. 

The authors reviewed data on 7,145 patients with native shoulder septic arthritis from the Nationwide Inpatient Sample database. Compared to patients who underwent surgical treatment, they found that patients treated nonsurgically had more medical comorbidities and complications, experienced longer length of stay, and were less likely to be discharged to home. Compared to patients treated with open surgery, patients who were treated arthroscopically had higher incidences of perioperative septicemia and urinary tract infection; similar average length of stay, hospital charges, and blood transfusion rates; and a lower incidence of osteomyelitis. Among patients with septicemia, the authors found that Staphylococcus aureus was the most frequently cultured causative organism. Learn more...