Septic arthritis of the shoulder is uncommon in adults. We reviewed the
cases of eighteen patients who were followed for a minimum of one year. The
patients ranged in age from forty-two to eighty-nine years. All but one
patient had at least one serious associated disease. Eight patients had had
an injection or aspiration of the shoulder before development of the
infection. All but one patient had had a delay in diagnosis. At the time of
admission to the hospital, the erythrocyte sedimentation rate was always
elevated, but the body temperature and white blood-cell count were not.
After treatment, the functional result was usually poor: only five patients
regained forward flexion to 90 degrees or more, eight patients had no
active motion of the glenohumeral joint, and two patients died. Arthrotomy
appeared to afford a better result than did repeated aspiration.