SEPTIC ARTHRITIS OF THE SHOULDER DURING THE FIRST 18 MONTHS OF LIFE

Forty-six septic shoulders in 42 patients <18 months old at diagnosis were followed for an average of 6 + 10 years. Eight were not diagnosed at the time of infection. Five patients complained of intermittent, m ild pain with use. All could touch their mouth and back of their head with the hand on their affected side. Flexion and abduction averaged 1 50 degrees internal and external rotation averaged 60 degrees. Ninetee n percent of the shoulders had <130 degrees of flexion. Discrepancy in humeral length was 0-9 cm (average 2.4 cm). Only 7% of the humeral he ads were entirely normal. The shapes of the remainder were quite varia ble, and range of motion could not be predicted from these shapes.