Keywords
septic arthritis - osteitis - pubic symphysis
Introduction
Septic arthritis of the pubic symphysis is a rare condition, usually caused by Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa.[1]
[2]
[3]
[4]
[5] Infection may result from a secondary embolization due to bacteremia or contiguous
spread of a soft-tissue infection. Risk factors include trauma, low-grade infection,
urological and gynecological procedures, malignant tumors of the pelvis, practice
of sports, and intravenous drug abuse.[5] Clinically, it presents as fever, abdominal, pelvic or groin pain, which increases
when standing up and walking, pain at hip movement, and painful claudication.[2]
[3]
[4] The difficulty in suspecting pubic conditions, due to their rarity and atypical
presentations, can delay diagnosis and therapy.[2]
[4] The present report aims to increase awareness of a rare infection focus at the pubic
symphysis, assisting in its differential diagnosis from abdominal pain, thus enabling
early treatment.
Case Report
A healthy, 23-year-old male patient, who worked as a teacher, was admitted to the
emergency department on June 10, 2019, complaining of bilateral hip pain starting
11 days before. The pain started on the left hip, and the patient had reported fever
for 8 days. He denied trauma, high-demand physical activities, and previous infections.
On physical examination, the patient was aware, oriented, with low-grade fever (38.8 C),
tachycardic (108 beats per minute), and with no inflammatory signs at an ectoscopic
examination of the pelvis and lower limbs; he complained of diffuse pain during bilateral
palpation from the pubic symphysis to the anterolateral region of hip, which was accentuated
on the left side. The patient also presented reduced muscle strength (M2) for hip
flexion and leg extension, but no sensory changes or abnormalities in other muscle
groups.
On June 03, 2019, a magnetic resonance image (MRI) of the patient's left hip showed
signs of insertional peritendinitis of the gluteus minimus, but no changes at the
pubic symphysis joint. Laboratorial tests requested at admission showed 18,100 white
blood cells (WBC)/mm3 with 18% of band neutrophils, an erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) of 82 mm at
the first hour, and a C-reactive protein (CRP) level of 162 mg/dL. On June 10, 2019,
when the patient was admitted, a chest x-ray, blood cultures with four samples, a
urine sedimentoscopy, and a urine culture were requested. A new MRI of the pelvis
was consistent with septic arthritis of the pubic symphysis ([Figure 1]). Treatment was instituted on the following day with intravenous ciprofloxacin,
400 mg, every 12 hours, and vancomycin. Blood cultures were positive for Enterococcus spp. and yeasts. Chest x-ray and urine cultures were negative.
Fig. 1 Magnetic resonance imaging of the pelvis in short inversion time inversion recovery
showing a fluid collection at the pubic symphysis region.
On June 17, 2019, the patient presented significant improvement, including limb strength
recovery, pain relief, and laboratory markers reduction; as such, we decided to continue
the intravenous antibiotic therapy with ciprofloxacin and vancomycin. He improved
up to the total remission of complaints on July 4, 2019 ([Table 1]). After 4 weeks of intravenous antibiotic therapy, the patient was discharged with
a prescription of oral ciprofloxacin (500 mg every 12 hours) for another 60 days and
outpatient follow-up.
Table 1
|
June 10
|
June 11
|
June 12
|
June 17
|
June 24
|
July 03
|
July 05
|
|
White blood cells
(/mm3)
|
18,100
|
11,900
|
15,450
|
9,010
|
12,260
|
5,380
|
4,690
|
|
Band neutrophils
(%)
|
18
|
7
|
8
|
1
|
2
|
5
|
2
|
|
C-reactive protein
(mg/dL)
|
162.8
|
155.1
|
|
18.4
|
6.5
|
|
1.9
|
|
Erythrocyte sedimentation rate
(mm/1st hour)
|
82
|
62
|
90
|
88
|
71
|
|
25
|
Discussion
The case report presently discussed demonstrates the importance of complementary exams
to diagnose septic arthritis of the pubic symphysis with no need for invasive procedures.
Septic arthritis of the pubic symphysis is very different from osteitis pubis. Osteitis
pubis is characterized by pelvic pain, broad-based gait, and bone lesion on the pubic
symphysis edges. It is a self-limiting inflammation secondary to trauma, pelvic surgery,
childbirth, or stress (often in athletes). Septic arthritis of the pubic symphysis
must be suspected in patients with acute onset of pelvic pain, fever, and systemic
symptoms.[4] Clinically, these symptoms include abdominal, pelvic, or inguinal pain, which increases
when standing up or walking and can result in lameness. In addition, this diagnosis
must be considered when testicular, perineal, or thigh pain is noted.[2]
[3]
[4] Although septic arthritis and inflammatory arthritis of the pubic symphysis present
similar clinical presentations, the former is more severe and accompanied by pain
and fever.[2]
[3]
[4]
Although conventional radiography takes 2 to 4 weeks to show signs of pubic symphysis
joint impairment, it can help to exclude other causes.[1] The first signs of septic arthritis with pubic osteomyelitis are an unilateral injury
with bone sequestration or stress fracture and eventual bone destruction.[1]
[2]
[4] Wilmes et al.[5] assessed the extent of pelvic abnormalities (with joint contrast injections) and
performed symphysis aspiration guided by computed tomography (CT) for material analysis.
Several authors recommend joint aspiration guided by ultrasonography or CT to diagnose
an infection.[2]
[3]
[4] However, this invasive procedure may be prevented by positive blood cultures.[3] Magnetic resonance imaging is the gold-standard imaging method due to its excellent
sensitivity (with specificity comparable to CT). Magnetic resonance imaging sequences
include fat suppression (fat sat, short inversion time inversion recovery) for improved
visualization of the inflamed edges, aiding the diagnosis.[1]
The literature states that biopsy and culture are required to differentiate septic
and inflammatory arthritis.[6]
[7] However, when blood culture is positive, antibiotic therapy can be started, and
laboratory findings (complete blood count, CRP, ESR) will reveal clinical improvement.
Ghislain et al.[8] reported that no randomized, controlled studies evaluated antibiotic guidelines
for the treatment of septic arthritis of the pubic symphysis when puncture biopsy
is negative. In the patient presently discussed, blood cultures were positive for
Enterococcus spp. and yeasts, and we decided for an antibiotic therapy with ciprofloxacin and
vancomycin with no pubic symphysis puncture biopsy for diagnosis confirmation.
The most common infectious agent is S. aureus, followed by P. aeruginosa, Escherichia coli, anaerobic bacteria, and Salmonella, Streptococcus and Brucella species.[8] Initial treatment with intravenous antibiotics must be followed by oral treatment
for at least 4 weeks, and follow-up must continue until ESR normalization (which often
takes 3 months). Pubic symphysis surgical debridement and curettage is indicated in
patients with serious complications, including pelvic diastasis due to bone necrosis,
bladder perforation, pelvic instability, and severe pain not responding to antibiotics.[9]
[10]
Septic arthritis of the pubic symphysis is rare and, depending on the results of complementary
tests, such as positive blood culture, MRI, and inflammatory markers, patients can
be treated conservatively with no need for an invasive procedure.
