Risk factors for failure of eradicating infection in a single arthroscopic surgical procedure for septic arthritis of the adult native shoulder with a focus on the volume of irrigation

Septic arthritis of a native joint is relatively rare but is still a challenging and important orthopedic emergency. Most previous reports have focused on the clinical outcomes rather than the risk factors for failure in arthroscopic surgery. We retrospectively reviewed the records of patients with septic monoarthritis of the shoulder who underwent arthroscopic irrigation and débridement between January 2007 and January 2019. All patients were divided into 2 groups according to recurrence after a single arthroscopic surgical procedure: eradicated group or recurred group. To identify risk factors affecting the recurrence of septic arthritis of the shoulder after arthroscopic surgery, the following parameters were considered: age; sex; involved side; presentation of rotator cuff tear; volume of irrigation; bacterial organism involved; preoperative erythrocyte sedimentation rate, C-reactive protein level, and white blood cell count in blood and joint fluid; diabetes mellitus; and hypertension. We compared the eradicated and recurred groups regarding the presence of potential risk factors. The study included 97 patients with a mean age of 61 years. Septic arthritis of the shoulder was eradicated completely with a single arthroscopic surgical procedure in 85 patients. However, a second arthroscopic surgical procedure was necessary in 12 patients (12.4%) because of infection recurrence. No significant differences were found between groups except in the volume of irrigation (P < .001). Most patients with septic arthritis (87.6%) of native shoulders were effectively treated with a single arthroscopic irrigation and débridement. The amount of irrigation may be the most important factor for preventing the need for additional surgical management.