PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - Edlund, E
AU  - Johnsson, U
AU  - Lidgren, L
AU  - Pettersson, H
AU  - Sturfelt, G
AU  - Svensson, B
AU  - Theander, J
AU  - Willén, H
TI  - Palmoplantar pustulosis and sternocostoclavicular arthro-osteitis.
AID  - 10.1136/ard.47.10.809
DP  - 1988 Oct 01
TA  - Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases
PG  - 809--815
VI  - 47
IP  - 10
4099  - http://ard.bmj.com/content/47/10/809.short
4100  - http://ard.bmj.com/content/47/10/809.full
SO  - Ann Rheum Dis1988 Oct 01; 47
AB  - Seventeen patients with shoulder pain and radiographic involvement of the sternoclavicular or sternocostal joints, or both, are described. Eleven of these patients also had palmoplantar pustulosis. Histological examination of the joints showed chronic and subacute inflammation, increased osteoblastic activity, and cartilage degeneration. Propionibacterium acnes was cultured in tissue samples from seven of the 15 biopsied patients, a finding at variance with those of previous reports. The possibility that sternoclavicular arthro-osteitis is of infectious origin should be the subject of further investigation. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) may provide pain relief, possibly owing to their inhibitory action on osteoblasts. In cases of severely restricted movement or severe pain resection of the medial clavicle may be considered.