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Joint effusion

Swelling of a joint

Field	Value
name	Joint effusion
image	Kneeffusion.JPG
caption	A traumatic right knee effusion. Note the swelling lateral to the kneecap as marked by the arrow.
field	Orthopedics, rheumatology

A joint effusion is the presence of increased intra-articular fluid. It may affect any joint. Commonly it involves the knee (see knee effusion).

Diagnostic approach

The approach to diagnosis depends on the joint involved. While aspiration of the joint is considered the gold standard of treatment, this can be difficult for joints such as the hip. Ultrasound may be used both to verify the existence of an effusion and to guide aspiration.

File:Knee effusion.jpg|Skyline view of the patella demonstrating a large joint effusion as marked by the arrow. File:Sail sign.jpg|A schematic drawing showing the sail sign which represents an effusion.

Differential diagnosis

There are many causes of joint effusion. It may result from trauma, inflammation, hematologic conditions, or infections.

Septic arthritis

Septic arthritis is the purulent invasion of a joint by an infectious agent with a resultant large effusion due to inflammation. Septic arthritis is a serious condition. It can lead to irreversible joint damage in the event of delayed diagnosis or mismanagement. It is basically a disease of children and adolescence.

Gout

Gout is usually present with recurrent attacks of acute inflammatory arthritis (red, tender, hot, swollen joint). It is caused by elevated levels of uric acid in the blood that crystallizes and deposits in joints, tendons, and surrounding tissues. Gout affects 1% of individuals in Western populations at some point in their lives.

Trauma

Trauma from ligamentous, osseous or meniscal injuries can result in an effusion. These are often hemarthrosis or bloody effusions.

Treatment

The treatment for joint effusion includes icing, rest and medication as advised by a doctor.{{cite web|title=A to Z: Joint Effusion

References

(November 2009). "Approach to knee effusions". Pediatr Emerg Care.
Marx, John. (2010). "Rosen's emergency medicine: concepts and clinical practice". Mosby/Elsevier.
{{DorlandsDict. one/000008993. septic arthritis
(July 2021). "Acute osteoarticular infections in children are frequently forgotten multidiscipline emergencies: beyond the technical skills.". EFORT Open Reviews.
Marx, John. (2010). "Rosen's emergency medicine: concepts and clinical practice". Mosby/Elsevier.
(October 2008). "Gout: an evidence-based review". J Clin Rheumatol.
Johnson MW. (April 2000). "Acute knee effusions: a systematic approach to diagnosis". Am Fam Physician.

Info: Wikipedia Source

This article was imported from Wikipedia and is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License. Content has been adapted to SurfDoc format. Original contributors can be found on the article history page.

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