Septic arthritis of the shoulder in adults is an unusual disease (only 3 % of all septic arthritis). Diagnosis is usually made too late, thus interfering in the last result. We report a clinical case in a fifteen years old man who went to the emergency room relating a great pain and difficult movement in his left shoulder, which was swelling and warm. He had made an effort some days before. The initial studies results in the emergency room were normal but clinically we suspected a septic arthritis of the glenohumeral joint. This diagnosis was ratified with RM and punture of the joint. We carried out a treatment consisting of early antibiotic therapy and arthroscopic cleaning. The patient goes on satisfactorily with complete recovery. Thereafter we review the present diagnosis and treatment of this entity.

Septic arthritis of the shoulder in adults is an unusual disease (only 3 % of all septic arthritis). Diagnosis is usually made too late, thus interfering in the last result. We report a clinical case in a fifteen years old man who went to the emergency room relating a great pain and difficult movement in his left shoulder, which was swelling and warm. He had made an effort some days before. The initial studies results in the emergency room were normal but clinically we suspected a septic arthritis of the glenohumeral joint. This diagnosis was ratified with RM and punture of the joint. We carried out a treatment consisting of early antibiotic therapy and arthroscopic cleaning. The patient goes on satisfactorily with complete recovery. Thereafter we review the present diagnosis and treatment of this entity.