Rapid destructive arthritis of the shoulder

Abstract

Rapid destructive arthritis of the shoulder, although uncommon, has received much attention in the recent medical literature. It has been described by several authors under varied names: hemorrhagic shoulder of the elderly, Milwaukee shoulder syndrome, rapid destructive arthritis of the shoulder, apatite-associated destructive arthritis and idiopathic destructive arthritis of the shoulder. This particular form of arthritis affects mainly elderly patients, predominantly women, with limited pain, rotator cuff tear, joint instability, voluminous mildly inflammatory, blood-stained effusion, basic calcium phosphate crystals, and marked joint and bone destruction.