RAPID DESTRUCTIVE ARTHRITIS OF THE SHOULDER

Rapid destructive arthritis of the shoulder, although uncommon, has re ceived much attention in the recent medical literature. It has been de scribed by several authors under varied names: hemorrhagic shoulder of the elderly, Milwaukee shoulder syndrome, rapid destructive arthritis of the shoulder, apatite-associated destructive arthritis and idiopat hic destructive arthritis of the shoulder. This particular form of art hritis affects mainly elderly patients, predominantly women, with limi ted pain, rotator cuff tear, joint instability, voluminous mildly infl ammatory, blood-stained effusion, basic calcium phosphate crystals, an d marked joint and bone destruction.