Diagnostic Approach for Swollen Joints - Flowchart
Diagnostic Approach for Swollen Joints - Flowchart Joint Pain and Swelling Joint Pain and Swelling
«Flowchart»

Start

Start

Start

Joint pain and swelling
Consider arthrocentesis (see Table 65 for contraindications to arthrocentesis)

Joint pain and swelling
Consider arthrocentesis (see Table 65 for contraindications to arthrocentesis)


Joint pain and swelling

Other clinical features
History
Physical findings
Laboratory tests
Imaging studies

Other clinical features
History
Physical findings
Laboratory tests
Imaging studies

Other clinical features



Other clinical features

End

End

End

Inflammatory arthritis
Differential:


Septic arthritis
Rheumatoid arthritis
Systemic lupus erythematosus
Seronegative spondyloarthropathies
Crystal-induced arthritis
Lyme arthritis

Inflammatory arthritis
Differential:


Septic arthritis
Rheumatoid arthritis
Systemic lupus erythematosus
Seronegative spondyloarthropathies
Crystal-induced arthritis
Lyme arthritis

Inflammatory arthritis
Differential:

Inflammatory arthritis


Septic arthritis
Rheumatoid arthritis
Systemic lupus erythematosus
Seronegative spondyloarthropathies
Crystal-induced arthritis
Lyme arthritis


Septic arthritis
Rheumatoid arthritis
Systemic lupus erythematosus
Seronegative spondyloarthropathies
Crystal-induced arthritis
Lyme arthritis

Noninflammatory arthritis
Differential:


Osteoarthritis
Meniscal and/or ligament tears
Avascular necrosis

Noninflammatory arthritis
Differential:


Osteoarthritis
Meniscal and/or ligament tears
Avascular necrosis

Noninflammatory arthritis
Differential:

Noninflammatory arthritis


Osteoarthritis
Meniscal and/or ligament tears
Avascular necrosis


Osteoarthritis
Meniscal and/or ligament tears
Avascular necrosis

Inflammatory arthritis
Differential:


Septic arthritis
Rheumatoid arthritis
Systemic lupus erythematosus
Seronegative spondyloarthropathies
Crystal-induced arthritis
Lyme arthritis

Inflammatory arthritis
Differential:

Inflammatory arthritis


Septic arthritis
Rheumatoid arthritis
Systemic lupus erythematosus
Seronegative spondyloarthropathies
Crystal-induced arthritis
Lyme arthritis


Septic arthritis
Rheumatoid arthritis
Systemic lupus erythematosus
Seronegative spondyloarthropathies
Crystal-induced arthritis
Lyme arthritis Inflammatory arthritis

Noninflammatory arthritis
Differential:


Osteoarthritis
Meniscal and/or ligament tears
Avascular necrosis

Noninflammatory arthritis
Differential:

Noninflammatory arthritis


Osteoarthritis
Meniscal and/or ligament tears
Avascular necrosis


Osteoarthritis
Meniscal and/or ligament tears
Avascular necrosis Noninflammatory arthritis

Synovial fluid studies


Cell counts
Crystals
Gram stain
Culture

Synovial fluid studies


Cell counts
Crystals
Gram stain
Culture

Synovial fluid studies

Synovial fluid studies


Cell counts
Crystals
Gram stain
Culture


Cell counts
Crystals
Gram stain
Culture

Inflammatory
WBC >2000/mm3

Inflammatory
WBC >2000/mm3

Inflammatory
3 Inflammatory

Noninflammatory
WBC <2000/mm3

Noninflammatory
WBC <2000/mm3

Noninflammatory
3 Noninflammatory