Spontaneous septic arthritis of the pubic symphysis in an afebrile patient.

Septic arthritis is a rare infection usually involving the knee or hip but can infrequently affect less obvious joints such as the pubic symphysis.Risk factors for septic arthritis include joint repair or replacement surgery, systemic infection, intravenous recreational drug use, and alcoholism.We present the case of a 48-year-old man with a final diagnosis of septic arthritis of the pubic symphysis who had no risk factors besides alcoholism. The presentation was unusual in that the patient was afebrile,and the infection seemed to be spontaneous. The infecting pathogen was identified as Streptococcus anginosus or S constellatus, both being normal intestinal flora. Infection by either bacterium is rare in septic arthritis.

[Infectious Inflammation of Pubic Symphysis (Symphysitis Pubis Purulenta): Five Case Reports and Literature View]. / Infekcní zánet symfýzy (symphysitis pubis purulenta): pet kazuistik a prehled literatury.

Purulent inflammation of the pubic symphysis is a rare condition involving the symphysis and parasymphyseal parts of the pubic bones. It is usually found in immuno-compromised patients and its most frequent cause is Staphylococcus aureus. Conservative treatment is based on long-term administration of antibiotics and has been efficient, as reported, in about 50% of the patients. The authors treated five patients with a late diagnosis of purulent infection of the pubic symphysis in whom the antibiotic therapy had to be completed by surgical intervention. Three patients undergoing surgery with removal of the infected necrotic tissue healed fast and well. One patient required repeated surgery because of recurrent purulency; eventually, the infection cleared up. One patient was treated only conservatively because she refused surgical treatment. Consequently, pubic diastasis developed and she suffered from persistent pelvic pain. One year after treatment her condition became complicated by pelvic fracture following a fall. The patient refused surgery again. However, the development of non-union and progression of complaints made her agree to a surgical treatment; fixation of the non-union had a satisfactory outcome. In the literature, infection in the symphysis region is referred to by several different names. One - in the authors' opinion incorrect use - is "arthritis" (septic arthritis of the pubic symphysis; pubic symphysis septic arthritis; infectious osteoarthritis of the pubis). Another term is "osteomyelitis" (acute pubic osteomyelitis; pubic osteomyelitis; osteomyelitis of the pubis; osteomyelitis pubis; osteomyelitis of the pubic symphysis; osteomyelitis of the symphysis pubis). None of the names shows clearly whether it is primary an infection of the symphysis or of the parasymphyseal bone. A combination of the term "osteitis" with "infectious" (infectious osteitis pubis) is an attempt to distinguish purulent symphysitis pubis from osteitis pubis. The authors completed both the Czech and English title of this paper with the Latin designation symphysis pubis purulenta. A possibility of using a new name, such as "pubosymphysitis", in analogy to "spondylodiscitis" can also be discussed. However, the use of simple terms "infection of symphysis" or "infection of pubic symphysis" seems to be most practicable. Based on the experience with the treatment of five patients with infection of the pubic symphysis, the authors suggest that the late phase with abscess formation or purulent discharge should be managed by surgery. This treatment has good clinical outcomes although it may be complicated by slow healing of soft tissues around the symphysis and instability of the anterior pelvic segment with its sequelae. Key words: infection of the symphysis, infection of the pubic symphysis, septic arthritis of the pubic symphysis, pubic osteomyelitis.

[Septic arthritis of the pubic symphysis in two athletes]. / Artritis séptica del pubis en dos deportistas.

Septic arthritis of the pubic symphysis, so called osteomyelitis pubis is the infection which involves pubic symphysis and its joint. It is a rare condition, representing less than one percent of all cases of osteomyelitis. It affects most frequently young athletes and women undergoing gynecologic or urologic surgery. It presents itself with fever and pubic pain which irradiates to the genitals and increases when hip is mobilized, and this fact produces gait claudication. Differential diagnosis should be made with pubic osteitis, which is a sterile inflammatory condition. Diagnosis is based on clinic supported by microbiologic culture results, image methods, and proteins augment during acute phase. Image guided puncture is often necessary for the differential diagnosis with pubic osteitis. The etiologic agents most commonly found are Staphylococcus aureus, followed by gram-negative bacilli, and polymicrobial infection in recent pelvis surgery. The antibiotic treatment is adjusted depending on the microbiological diagnosis, adding NSAIDs, and bed rest. Surgical debridement is required up to 55% of the cases. Two cases of osteomyelitis of the pubis by S. aureus, with good outcome to treatment with antibiotics, NSAIDs and rest are here described. Both patients were healthy relevant athletes.

Corynebacterium accolens-associated pelvic osteomyelitis.

Corynebacterium accolens is a rare human pathogen. We encountered a case of C. accolens isolated from a thigh collection in a man with osteomyelitis of the adjacent pubic symphysis.

Robot Assisted Cystectomy With Holmium Laser Debridement for Osteomyelitis of the Pubic Symphysis With Urinary Fistula.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the success of robot-assisted holmium laser debridement of the pubic symphysis for osteomyelitis of the pubic symphysis with associated urosymphyseal fistula. Traditionally, excision of the fistulous tract and concomitant cystectomy with urinary diversion and pubic symphyseal debridement has been done using an open approach. This paper presents patients who were successfully managed with this approach. METHODS AND MATERIALS: Between January 2007 and January 2018, all patients who underwent pubic symphyseal debridement with or without cystectomy were identified. We reviewed patients who underwent planned robot-assisted cystectomy with holmium laser debridement for osteomyelitis of the pubic symphysis as a result of urinary fistula. Data on clinical presentation, perioperative outcomes, and recurrence of urinary tract fistula and symptoms were collected. RESULTS: Twelve patients underwent holmium laser debridement of the pubic symphysis during robot-assisted cystectomy for urinary fistula. Eleven patients had prior radiation treatments for prostate cancer with all having failed prior conservative management. Median operative time was 270 minutes with median length of stay of 5 days. At last follow-up, 11 (91.7%) of patients had complete resolution of their urinary fistula at median follow-up of 29 months. No patients developed osteonecrosis of the bone or complications from their urinary diversion at last follow-up. CONCLUSION: Definitive surgical treatment with holmium laser debridement of the pubic symphysis with concomitant robot-assisted cystectomy and urinary diversion is a safe and durable approach to the complex problem of urinary fistula with pubic symphysis osteomyelitis.

Abscess originating from osteomyelitis as a cause of lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) and acute urinary retention.

Lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) are a common complaint in the general population with great impact on the quality of life. Besides the classical pathologies, there are less common causes that must be considered in the treatment approach for patients with LUTS. We present the case of a 30-year-old patient with multiple emergency department episodes with dysuria, urinary frequency, suprapubic pain and an episode of acute urinary retention. The blood and urine tests only revealed increased systemic inflammatory parameters. The ultrasound examination showed thickening of the bladder wall, and the CT scan revealed a retropubic abscess originating from a pubic symphysis osteomyelitis. A percutaneous drainage was performed and, after empirical antibiotic therapy, there was complete resolution of the clinical picture.

Septic arthritis of the pubis symphysis: clinical and therapeutic features.

Septic arthritis of the pubis symphysis is rare and difficult to diagnose. The objective of our study was to describe the biological, clinical, radiological and therapeutic aspects of this disease. This is a retrospective study of 4 cases of septic arthritis of the pubic symphysis collected in the Department of Rheumatology and Orthopaedics in Sousse in Tunisia over a period of 16 years (2000-2016). Our population consists of 3 women and one men. The mean age was 47 years (18-83). Clinical signs of appeal were inflammatory groin pain, pubic pain and fever. Symptoms appeared after forceps delivery in 2 cases, after surgery on the pelvis in one case and in a context of sepsis in one case. Radiographs showed pubic disjunction with irregular shoreline in all cases. CT performed in all patients and MRI in 2 patients showed erosions of the banks of the pubic symphysis with infiltration of the soft parts in all cases. The causative organisms were isolated in 3 cases by biopsy of soft tissue abscess under CT in 2 cases and vaginal swab in one case. Identified germs were staphylococcus aureus Méti-S (n=1), proteus mirabilis (n=1) and varied flora (n=1). The treatment consisted of appropriate antibiotics in all cases and surgical drainage of soft tissue abscess resistant to medical treatment in 2 cases. The outcome was favorable in all cases. Diagnosis of septic arthritis of the pubic symphysis is based on clinic supported by microbiologic culture results, image methods, and proteins augment during acute phase.

Clinical and microbiological findings of septic arthritis caused by Haemophilus parainfluenzae.

OBJECTIVES: To report a case of septic arthritis due to H. parainfluenzae and to review the clinical and microbiological characteristics of published case patients. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Data was collected on age, sex, infection localization, underlying risk factors, symptom onset-diagnosis interval, analytical findings, microbiological diagnosis, treatment, outcome, and follow-up of the present patient (presenting with septic arthritis of the pubic symphysis due to H. parainfluenzae) and those identified in a literature analysis. RESULTS: Data of 18 patients, including 17 reported case patients, was collected. Mean age at presentation was 51±9 years. Underlying diseases for septic arthritis were recorded in 11 patients. The infection site was the knee in eight patients, hip and/or acromioclavicular joint in five. Pain was observed in 15 patients and fever in 10; the mean symptom onset-diagnosis interval was 9.4 days. Diagnosis was obtained from synovial fluid aspirate in 12 patients and from blood cultures in four. Susceptibility of H. parainfluenzae strains was reported in 12 cases. Eight patients were treated with cephalosporins and 10 with penicillins. A favorable outcome was observed in 13 patients. CONCLUSIONS: Septic arthritis caused by H. parainfluenzae is a rare entity that requires a high level of suspicion before application of laboratory methods for rapid diagnosis and treatment.

[Septic polyarthritis due to an infected nail bed around an ingrown toenail in a previously healthy boy]. / Septische polyartritis ten gevolge van een geinfecteerd nagelbed rond een ingegroeide teennagel bij een tevoren gezonde jongen.

A 17-year-old, previously healthy boy was admitted with complaints of fever, malaise and pain in the pubic region and groin. His left elbow was also warm and swollen and could not be extended fully. Cultures of fluid drained from both hips and the elbow, blood and inflamed tissue from the nail bed of the right big toe yielded Staphylococcus aureus. The patient was treated with intravenous antibiotics for septic arthritis of both hips, the left elbow and possibly the pubic symphysis. The infected nail bed, which was the most likely port of entry, was also treated. One year later, the original painful symptoms had disappeared but the right hip was almost immobile. In a patient with indications of septic arthritis, timely diagnosis and adequate therapy reduce the risk of permanent damage to the joint.

Septic arthritis of the pubic symphysis: review of 100 cases.

We report a novel case of septic arthritis of the symphysis pubis due to Streptococcus pneumoniae and review 99 previously reported cases of infection of this joint. Typical features of pubic symphysis infection included fever (74%), pubic pain (68%), painful or waddling gait (59%), pain with hip motion (45%), and groin pain (41%). Risk factors included female incontinence surgery (24%); sports, especially soccer (19%); pelvic malignancy (17%); and intravenous drug use (15%). Septic arthritis of the pubic symphysis is often misdiagnosed as osteitis pubis, a sterile inflammatory condition. Causative organisms differed according to risk factors. Staphylococcus aureus was the major cause among athletes, Pseudomonas aeruginosa among intravenous drug users, and infections among patients with pelvic malignancies were usually polymicrobial, involving fecal flora. Patients with recent urinary incontinence surgery usually had monomicrobial infection, with no predominant pathogen. Since osteomyelitis is present in 97% of patients, we recommend antibiotic courses of 6 weeks' duration. Surgical debridement is required in 55% of patients.

Septic arthritis of the pubic symphysis.

Septic arthritis of the pubic symphysis developed in a previously healthy 13-year-old boy. Blood cultures and the culture of material taken by joint aspiration of the pubic symphysis under radioscopic control yielded Staphilococcus aureus. Early treatment with parenteral antibiotics prevented the development of osteomyelitis of the pubic rami in our patient. Open debridement was not necessary.

Bacterial osteitis pubis in a weight lifter without invasive trauma.

Osteitis pubis is a well-known complication of invasive procedures about the pelvis which is caused by a bacterial infection. It is also now known that osteitis pubis in athletes is an inflammatory disorder rather than infectious as previously thought. It occurs in athletes who place significant repetitive stresses across the symphysis in such activities as running, race walking, gymnastics, soccer, rugby, basketball, and tennis. This case report, however, describes a weight lifter who developed a bacterially caused osteitis pubis without any invasive trauma. He was evaluated thoroughly and no other focus of infection was found. He was treated conservatively with intravenous antibiotics and physical therapy. At 3 months follow-up he had returned to his usual fitness activities without limitations. Although most osteitis pubis in athletes is inflammatory in nature, health care providers must keep an index of suspicion that an infectious etiology is possible in this population even without invasive trauma.

Pseudomonas osteomyelitis of the symphysis pubis after inguinal hernia repair.

Osteitis pubis (OP) is a term used to describe an entity characterised by severe pelvic pain, a wide-based gait and bony destruction of the margins of the pubic symphysis. It is usually assumed that OP is a non-infectious, self-limiting, relatively benign condition. Infectious osteomyelitis of the symphysis pubis (IOSP) is very unusual and the clinical presentation can resemble OP. IOSP following inguinal hernia repair is extremely rare. A case of IOSP caused by Pseudomonas aeruginosa is described. We reiterate the assumption that IOSP can be misdiagnosed as OP.

Osteomyelitis of the pelvis caused by Rhodococcus equi in a two-year-old horse.

A 2-year-old female Quarter Horse was evaluated for hind limb lameness, fever (40 degrees C [104 degrees F]), and lethargy of 2 weeks' duration. Hypoproteinemia characterized by hypoalbuminemia and hyperfibrinogenemia was detected. Abdominal ultrasonography revealed thickening of the right dorsal colon wall. Treatment was instituted for putative right dorsal coliis. Lameness evaluation localized signs of pain to the lumbar vertebrae or pelvis. Radiography performed with the horse standing and nuclear scintigraphy revealed no abnormalities. Ventrodorsal pelvic radiography revealed a focal area of bony lysis and proliferation involving the cranial portion of the pubic symphysis. Aspiration yielded purulent exudate containing Rhodococcus equi, which was susceptible to erythromycin. Treatment included surgical debridement of the abscess and oral administration of erythromycin and rifampin. The horse's hind limb lameness completely resolved within 20 days. Infections of the pubic symphysis should be considered when lameness localized to the pelvis is associated with fever and an inflammatory leukogram.

Osteomyelitis of the symphysis pubis.

A case of osteomyelitis of the symphysis pubis caused by Streptococcus agalactiae with no identifiable predisposing factors is presented. The differentiation from osteitis pubis and the causative organism are discussed.

[Pubic symphysitis secondary to fistula. Physiopathological hypothesis]. / Symphysite pubienne secondaire à une fistule. Hypothèse physiopathologique.

Symphysitis of the pubis due to Streptococcus occurred after endoscopic resection of the prostate in a 69-year-old man. Despite a well conducted antibiotic regimen, signs persisted one year later and required arthrography that showed a prostato-symphysis fistula. This procedure might be used to find an explanation of certain persistent cases of symphysitis. Fistulization between the prostate and the pubic symphysis would be a new pathogenic hypothesis for symphysitis of the pubis.

[Osteitis pubis]. / Osteitis pubis.

Lytic degeneration of the pubic symphysis is a relatively rare entity. The present study is dedicated to the fact that the disease causes numerous diagnostic problems. Authors based on their three cases describe the clinical features and review the literature. It is stated that both from the aspect of the diagnosis and the result of the treatment, operative intervention is beneficial. In contraversion to numerous papers it is found that the described disease is often infectious and can be consequence of an infection of the urinary tract.