Joint effusion (fluid in joints)

Lower Back | Pathology | Joint effusion (fluid in joints) (Disease)


Description

Joint swelling is common with different types of arthritis, infections, and injuries. A swollen joint is a symptom of other health conditions:

Causes and Risk factors

With gout, uric acid - a normal chemical in the body - forms crystals that deposit in the joints, causing inflammation and pain. The crystals may also deposit in other areas to become nodules under the skin or stones in the kidney.

Common bacterial causes of infectious arthritis include Neisseria gonorrhoeae and Staphylococcus aureus. Some joint infections may be caused by more than one organism.

Joint injuries can result in painful, swollen joints, and stiffness. Sometimes the muscles, tendons, and ligaments surrounding the joint are torn or injured. Also, painful, swollen joints may be caused by bursitis, tendinitis, dislocations, strains, sprains, or even fractures.

Diagnosis and Treatment

Joint fluid can be aspirated from a joint using a needle and syringe. The procedure can be performed in a doctors office and the fluid may be sent to a laboratory for analysis. Joint fluid analysis is also commonly referred to by other names: synovial fluid analysis, arthrocentesis, joint tap.

Removal of joint fluid has a dual purpose - diagnostic and therapeutic. Finding the cause of joint swelling is the goal. The removal of fluid may also help relieve pain and pressure on the joint. happen when theres an increase of fluid in the tissues that surround the joints. ...