Our study investigated olecranon septic bursitis treatment, focusing on postsurgical antibiotic use. Analyzing 22 years of Mayo Clinic data, we found that smoking and not administering antibiotics following surgery led to poorer outcomes. A 3-week antibiotic course following surgery was most effective. Our findings suggest that a subset of patients may benefit from longer courses of antibiotics; however, further research is needed to confirm these findings. 

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is an imaging test that is often used in patients with a suspected bone infection in their foot. MRI findings may impact how these patients are treated; thus, it is important to understand the significance of various MRI findings. This study compared different patterns of MRI findings in these patients to their clinical outcomes. Patients with classic features of bone infection on MRI had the worst outcomes, whereas patients without them sometimes healed.

This paper describes an ultrasound guided technique for aspiration of hip arthroplasties that has not been published. We believe this technique is important because it yields useful fluid 99 % of the time with low contamination rate (2 %). Ultrasound, although common in Europe, is gaining popularity in the United States. Besides teaching a useful technique, this paper also discusses findings of lavage-obtained samples which are rarely discussed in other aspiration papers.

Tenosynovitis due to Histoplasma capsulatum in an immunocompromised host warrants special attention. Following surgical debridement, the patient initially improved on antifungal therapy, but as immunosuppression was decreased, she presented with a flare, requiring further debridement. With negative fungal cultures and declining antigenemia, it was felt that her interim worsening was as a consequence of immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome (IRIS).