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 20ga needle 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
Have patient supine with foot perpendicular to leg
Palpate sulcus lateral to medial malleolus and medial to TA and EHL tendons
Then plantarflex foot with needle entering skin overlying the sulcus<unk>  needle slightly cephalad as it passes between medial malleolus and TA tendon
Keep foot perpendicular to leg
Enter subtalar joint just below tip of lateral malleolus
Direct needle medially toward joint space
Arthrocentesis: ankle
Arthrocentesis: elbow
Arthrocentesis: wrist
Arthrocentesis: knee
Arthrocentesis: shoulder
Arthrocentesis: hip
Arthrocentesis: toe
Arthrocentesis: finger