Contributor: Aaron Lessen, MD

Educational Pearls:

Septic arthritis of the sternoclavicular joint is uncommon accounting for <1% of septic arthritis cases
Immunosuppression and IV drug use increases the risk

Can account for up to 17% of septic arthritis cases in patients who use IV drugs

Symptoms are typically vague with pain presenting around where the sternum meets the clavicle
Consider imaging with CT or MRI and draining/analyzing the fluid if possible
Antibiotics are the mainstay of treatment, but surgery may be required to wash out joint and resect infected bone
As septic arteritis of the sternoclavicular join is uncommon, remember that patients presenting multiple times for the same complaint require a broader differential and a more extensive workup so that less common conditions are not missed

References

Gonçalves RB, Grenho A, Correia J, Reis JE. Sternoclavicular joint septic arthritis in a healthy adult: a rare diagnosis with frequent complications. J Bone Jt Infect. 2021;6(9):389-392. doi:10.5194/jbji-6-389-2021

Thompson MA, Barlotta KS. Septic Arthritis of the Sternoclavicular Joint. J Emerg Med. Jul 2018;55(1):128-129. doi:10.1016/j.jemermed.2018.02.044

Summarized by Mark O'Brien, MS4 | Edited by John Spartz, MD, & Erik Verzemnieks, MD

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