Unilateral hypertrophic osteoarthropathy in a patient with a vascular graft infection

J Clin Rheumatol. 2012 Sep;18(6):307-9.

Abstract

We report a patient who presented with high fever; a unilateral, palpable tender swelling along the right shin; and effusions in knee and ankle joints leading to the diagnosis of hypertrophic osteoarthropathy (HOA). The diagnostic workup revealed an infected vascular graft that had been implanted 2 years before because of a ruptured infrarenal aortic aneurysm as the cause of HOA. The patient was treated successfully with antibiotics and surgically replacing the infected graft. Hypertrophic osteoarthritis is a clinical entity characterized by digital clubbing, periostitis, and synovial effusions. Primary and secondary forms have been described. Secondary HOA develops as a consequence of various diseases, mainly intrathoracic malignancies. Vascular graft infection, as reported here, is a rare cause of HOA. This case underlines the typical clinical features of HOA and the importance of a prompt and comprehensive diagnostic workup in cases of HOA. Our aim is to sharpen the awareness of its multiple underlying causes. Unilateral HOA is a rare but strong and important sign of infection of vascular prosthesis.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Aortic Rupture / surgery
  • Blood Vessel Prosthesis Implantation / adverse effects*
  • Fatal Outcome
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Osteoarthropathy, Secondary Hypertrophic / diagnosis
  • Osteoarthropathy, Secondary Hypertrophic / etiology*
  • Prosthesis-Related Infections / etiology*
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed