Septic Arthritis Caused by Perirectal Abscess

Cureus. 2021 Feb 15;13(2):e13343. doi: 10.7759/cureus.13343.

Abstract

Septic arthritis is a debilitating, inflammatory condition of joints that can cause patients to experience significant pain and discomfort. An estimated 0.006% of people annually develop the condition; the absence of prompt diagnosis and treatment can lead to long-term joint dysfunction. Septic arthritis is usually caused by hematologic seeding of the joint space by bacteria, however, those who receive intra-joint injections and IV access are also at high risk for developing the condition. In this article, we present the case of a 58-year-old male with no immediately identifiable risk factors for septic arthritis, who was found to have a septic joint as a result of an invading perirectal abscess that was discovered in an imaging study.

Keywords: perirectal abscess; septic arthritis.

Publication types

  • Case Reports