Rheumatoid bursitis extending into the clavicle and to the skin surface

A case of rheumatoid arthritis with bilateral shoulder bursitis accompanied by gas image

We experienced a case of bilateral shoulder bursitis with gas images in a rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patient. A 60-year-old man with RA had been treated with weekly methotrexate 10 mg and daily prednisolone (PSL) 10 mg for 7 months. Generalized pain, especially in the bilateral shoulder joints, developed and exacerbated daily with increased C-reactive protein (CRP) level. Despite the initiation of biweekly sarilumab 200 mg, joint symptoms and CRP level continued to worsen. Computed tomography (CT) scan to determine the cause of severe shoulder inflammation revealed low absorption areas with contrast effects at the margins around the bilateral shoulder joints, accompanied by internal gas images. In addition, magnetic resonance imaging demonstrated subacromial bursae and coracoid bursae and bursitis, leading to the suspicion of abscess formation depending on the presence of gas image. In spite of antimicrobial therapy, arthralgia did not improve, and a CT-guided arthrocentesis of the left shoulder joint resulted in negative findings of infection in culture and pathological examinations. Switching treatment to intensive anti-inflammatory therapy with high-dose steroids and etanercept finally improved symptoms and CRP levels associated with the reduction of low absorption areas and disappearance of gas images at bilateral shoulder joints. Our case indicated that bursitis with gas image in RA patients involves unusual pathophysiology and requires intensive anti-rheumatic treatment.

Sterile synovio-cutaneous fistula: a potential complication of repair of large and massive rotator cuff tears

We present 4 patients who underwent mobilization and repair of large or massive rotator cuff tears (maximum dimension, >/=3.0 cm). In all 4 patients, sterile synovio-cutaneous fistulas developed within several weeks of the index procedure. All required further debridement surgery, multiply in 3 cases, with 1 case requiring a rotational flap for wound closure. Tissue at surgery appeared necrotic and avascular, with extensive inflammatory response, and we postulate that this was possibly related to the extensive mobilization needed to achieve cuff closure. Despite the complications, all fistulas eventually were closed, and all 4 patients were eventually satisfied with the functional status of their shoulders. We conclude that a sterile synovio-cutaneous fistula is a possible complication of mobilization and repair of large or massive rotator cuff tears.