Joint effusion – Differential diagnosis

There are many causes of joint effusion. It may result from trauma, inflammation, hematologic conditions, or infections. Septic arthritis is the purulent invasion of a joint by an infectious agent with a resultant large effusion due to inflammation.

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.

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.


Adapted from the Wikipedia article Joint effusion, under the G. N. U. Free Documentation License. Please also see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki








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