Prep area with betadine or chlorhexadine using circular motion moving away from joint x 3
Drape joint in sterile fashion
Inject lidocaine with 25-30ga needle superficially and then into deeper tissues
Insert 18ga needle (for larger joints) into joint space while pulling back on syringe
Stop once you aspirate fluid; aspirate as much fluid as possible
Send: cell count, culture, Gram Stain, crystal analysis
Send: cell count, culture, Gram Stain, crystal analysis
See joint-specific page for procedures<unk> : shoulder<unk> : elbow<unk> : wrist<unk> : finger<unk> : hip<unk> : knee<unk> : toe
Arthrocentesis
Elbow x-ray
Knee x-rays
Posterior ankle splint
Splinting
Bone and joint antibiotics
Musculoskeletal ultrasound
Colchicine