Sternoclavicular joint septic arthritis presenting as cervical abscess and subcutaneous emphysema: A case report

Brandon E Fornwalt; Madeline Goosmann; Stephen Reynolds; Jared D Bunevich

doi:10.1177/2050313X20902874

Sternoclavicular joint septic arthritis presenting as cervical abscess and subcutaneous emphysema: A case report

SAGE Open Med Case Rep. 2020 Feb 4:8:2050313X20902874. doi: 10.1177/2050313X20902874. eCollection 2020.

Authors

Brandon E Fornwalt¹, Madeline Goosmann², Stephen Reynolds¹, Jared D Bunevich¹

Affiliations

¹ Department of Otolaryngology, Bon Secours Mercy Health-St. Elizabeth Boardman Hospital, Boardman, OH, USA.
² Northeast Ohio Medical University, Rootstown, OH, USA.

Abstract

Sternoclavicular joint septic arthritis results from hematogenous spread of a bacterial infection, usually in the immunocompromised. It commonly presents as a chest wall abscess. Cervical abscess resulting from sternoclavicular joint septic arthritis is a rare complication with only one reported case in the English literature. We describe a case of sternoclavicular joint septic arthritis in an elderly diabetic adult with cervical abscess as initial presentation.

Keywords: Neck abscess; cervical subcutaneous emphysema; septic arthritis; sternoclavicular joint.

Publication types

Case Reports