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

knee In humans and other primates, the knee joins the thigh with the leg and consists of two joints: one between the femur and tibia (tibiofemoral joint), and one between the femur and patella (patellofemoral joint). It is the largest joint in the hu ...

(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 Ultrasound is sound with frequency, frequencies greater than 20 Hertz, kilohertz. This frequency is the approximate upper audible hearing range, limit of human hearing in healthy young adults. The physical principles of acoustic waves apply ...

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 Acute septic arthritis, infectious arthritis, suppurative arthritis, pyogenic arthritis, osteomyelitis, or joint infection is the invasion of a joint by an infectious agent resulting in joint inflammation. Generally speaking, symptoms typica ...

is the purulent invasion of a

joint A joint or articulation (or articular surface) is the connection made between bones, ossicles, or other hard structures in the body which link an animal's skeletal system into a functional whole.Saladin, Ken. Anatomy & Physiology. 7th ed. McGraw- ...

by an infectious agent with a resultant large effusion due to inflammation.

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 Gout ( ) is a form of inflammatory arthritis characterized by recurrent attacks of pain in a red, tender, hot, and Joint effusion, swollen joint, caused by the deposition of needle-like crystals of uric acid known as monosodium urate crysta ...

is usually present with recurrent attacks of acute

inflammatory arthritis Inflammatory arthritis is a group of diseases which includes: rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthropathy, inflammatory bowel disease, adult-onset Still's disease, scleroderma, juvenile idiopathic arthritis, and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). ...

(red, tender, hot, swollen joint). It is caused by elevated levels of

uric acid Uric acid is a heterocyclic compound of carbon, nitrogen, oxygen, and hydrogen with the Chemical formula, formula C5H4N4O3. It forms ions and salts known as urates and acid urates, such as ammonium acid urate. Uric acid is a product of the meta ...

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

ligament A ligament is a type of fibrous connective tissue in the body that connects bones to other bones. It also connects flight feathers to bones, in dinosaurs and birds. All 30,000 species of amniotes (land animals with internal bones) have liga ...

ous, osseous or meniscal injuries can result in an effusion. These are often

hemarthrosis Hemarthrosis is a bleeding into joint spaces. It is a common feature of hemophilia. Causes It usually follows injury but occurs mainly in patients with a predisposition to hemorrhage such as those being treated with warfarin (or other anticoagu ...

or bloody effusions.

Treatment

The treatment for joint effusion includes icing, rest and medication as advised by your doctor.

References

External links

{{Medical resources , DiseasesDB = 15237 , ICD10 = {{ICD10, M, 25, 4, M, 00 , ICD9 = {{ICD9, 719.0 Musculoskeletal disorders Medical signs