Joint aspiration and serum markers - do they matter in the diagnosis of native shoulder sepsis? A systematic review.

The diagnosis of native shoulder joint sepsis lacks uniformity. Methods used to evaluate shoulder sepsis are heterogeneous and may lead to delays or misdiagnosis with devastating sequelae. Synovial white cell count is underutilized and may also present with a lower value than expected, which is likely related to the time interval between symptom onset and diagnosis.