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Case Reports
. 2024 Aug;14(8):135-140.
doi: 10.13107/jocr.2024.v14.i08.4676.

A Rare Case of Idiopathic Elbow Septic Arthritis in an Adult

Alamin Ahmed Altayeb Alhadi  1 , Ahmed Almostafa Balla Dafalha Mohamed  1 , Esra Mustafa Hamed Abdalla  2 , Mohammed Yousif Abdelrahman Adam  1 , Hanaa Abdalla Mustafa Mohammed  1
Affiliations
Case Reports

A Rare Case of Idiopathic Elbow Septic Arthritis in an Adult

Alamin Ahmed Altayeb Alhadi et al. J Orthop Case Rep. 2024 Aug.

Abstract

Introduction: Septic arthritis of the elbow is a rare, serious condition that requires prompt medical attention. With proper treatment, most individuals are able to recover fully and regain function in the affected joint. However, without treatment, septic arthritis of the elbow can lead to long-term joint damage and disability.

Case report: This case report presents a rare occurrence of septic arthritis in the elbow joint of a 23-year-old male patient. The patient presented with pain, swelling, and limited range of motion in the affected joint. After a thorough clinical assessment and diagnostic imaging, a diagnosis of septic arthritis was confirmed. The patient was promptly treated with intravenous antibiotics and joint aspiration to drain the infected fluid. Following treatment, the patient showed significant improvement in symptoms and regained full range of motion in the affected elbow joint.

Conclusion: Prompt drainage and washout of the impacted joint are recommended for both diagnostic and therapeutic reasons. The functional outcome of the affected joints depends on the time interval between the onset of the symptoms and surgical intervention and it is crucial to quickly and precisely identify the presence of microorganisms in the synovial fluid.

Keywords: Elbow; adult; septic arthritis; small joint.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflict of Interest: Nil

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Patient at presentation, image showing swelling of the right elbow in the posteromedial.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Lateral X-ray view of the right elbow showing anterior and posterior soft tissue shadow with maintained joint alignment and integrity.
Figure 3
Figure 3
5 mL of turbid joint aspirate.
Figure 4
Figure 4
Patient in the OR in supine position, elbow flexed, incision on the lateral aspect joint.
Figure 5
Figure 5
Intraoperative identification of joint capsule.
Figure 6
Figure 6
Intraoperative joint irrigation with normal saline.
Figure 7
Figure 7
Skin sutured vertically using non absorbable Nylon 2.0.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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