A 21-year-old male patient presents with knee pain, swelling, and restricted ranges of motion for 3 weeks following trauma. The patient has a mild fever. Radiographs of the knee show distention of the joint capsule, soft-tissue swelling, and osteopenia as well as early joint space narrowing. Which of the following is most likely to be discovered on aspiration of the joint?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The patient's presentation is consistent with septic arthritis, which is typically caused by bacterial infections such as Staphylococcus aureus. Aspiration of the joint is typically done to diagnose and treat septic arthritis, and the synovial fluid would likely show the presence of bacteria. Aseptic synovial fluid would be more indicative of non-infectious causes of joint inflammation. Streptococcus and Pseudomonas are possible causes but less common than Staphylococcus.

A 21-Year-Old Male Patient Presents with Knee Pain, Swelling, and Restricted