Septic Arthritis of Shoulder Joint an Unusual Complication of Acute Cholangitis

Abstract

Acute cholangitis manifest as jaundice, abdominal pain and fever. Patients of severe acute cholangitis may develop septic shock, altered sensorium and later may progress to multiorgan failure. Septic arthritis of shoulder joint usually develops due to septicaemia, direct inoculation or because of direct spread of infection from adjacent tissue. There is no reported case of septic arthritis of shoulder joint, secondary to acute cholangitis in literature. Herein, we are reporting a first of its kind case of septic arthritis of left shoulder joint secondary to complication of acute cholangitis, which was managed successfully with antibiotics and arthroscopic debridement.

Keywords

• choledocholithiasis
• jaundice
• sepsis