Atraumatic septic arthritis of the elbow in a young immunocompetent host secondary to distant hematogenous spread.

We present the case of elbow septic arthritis without trauma, due to hematogenous spread from a distant source in a young immunocompetent host. We discuss the importance of early recognition and treatment of septic arthritis, despite unusual presentation and history, as well as advocate aspiration of the elbow joint in equivocal cases as a low morbidity/high-yield test.