The New England Journal of Medicine has published a case study of a 45-year-old man whose severe shoulder pain and swelling turned out to be caused by a destructive joint condition called Milwaukee shoulder syndrome.
The case, shared by the journal on social media, describes how the patient arrived with two months of worsening pain and swelling in his right shoulder. An X-ray (radiograph) revealed something striking: the ball of the upper arm bone (the humeral head) had been destroyed, leaving the shaft of the bone (the humeral diaphysis) floating free within the joint.
Milwaukee shoulder syndrome is a rare condition in which calcium crystals build up inside the joint, causing progressive destruction of the surrounding bone and soft tissue. It tends to affect older adults and can be mistaken for other forms of arthritis in its early stages.
The case was published in the journal’s Images in Clinical Medicine series, which uses striking diagnostic images to illustrate conditions that clinicians may rarely encounter.
Most people with shoulder pain will never face anything this serious. But persistent or worsening shoulder pain that doesn’t improve after a few weeks is worth discussing with a GP, who can arrange imaging if needed.
Anyone in Kent with concerns about joint pain or swelling can contact their GP in the first instance, or call NHS 111 for advice.
Source: @NEJM
Rare Shoulder Condition Highlighted in Leading Medical Journal Quiz
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