SAQ 254 – Rheumatology – acute monoarthritis and arthrocentesis
Model Answer
Question 7. acute monoarthritis and arthrocentesis.
a. Differential diagnoses
Acute gout.
Osteoarthritis-associated effusion.
Spontaneous haemarthrosis from undiagnosed coagulopathy or thrombocytopenia.
Septic arthritis.
Seronegative arthritis such as psoriatic arthritis.
b. Reasons and justification
Reason
Justification
Diagnostic
Joint-fluid analysis is the only reliable non-operative method to exclude septic arthritis and may identify organisms, urate crystals, or other crystals.
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