Joint Effusion - Flowchart
Joint Effusion - Flowchart Joint Effusion Joint Effusion
«Flowchart»

Joint effusion

Joint effusion

Joint effusion

Serology testing or Thayer-Martin cultures

Serology testing or Thayer-Martin cultures

Serology testing or Thayer-Martin cultures

Lyme titer

Lyme titer

Lyme titer

Rule out inflammatory or septic arthritis

Rule out inflammatory or septic arthritis

Rule out inflammatory or septic arthritis

Noninflammatory

Noninflammatory

Noninflammatory

Confirm by negative Gram stain and negative C&S

Confirm by negative Gram stain and negative C&S

Confirm by negative Gram stain and negative C&S

Rule out infectious process

Rule out infectious process

Rule out infectious process

Gram stain, C&S

Gram stain, C&S

Gram stain, C&S

Pseudogout

Pseudogout

Pseudogout

Gout

Gout

Gout

End

End

End

Calcium pyrophosphate

Calcium pyrophosphate

Calcium pyrophosphate

Monosodium urate, needle-shaped, strongly birefringent

Monosodium urate, needle-shaped, strongly birefringent

Monosodium urate

Arthrocentesis and analysis of fluid (Table 63)

Arthrocentesis and analysis of fluid (Table 63)

Arthrocentesis and analysis of fluid (Table 63)

Suspected gonococcal arthritis

Suspected gonococcal arthritis

Suspected gonococcal arthritis

Suspected Lyme disease

Suspected Lyme disease

Suspected Lyme disease

Elevated total protein concentration

Elevated total protein concentration

Elevated total protein concentration

WBC 200-10,000, PMNs <50%

WBC 200-10,000, PMNs <50%

WBC 200-10,000, PMNs <50%

Elevated WBC ≥10,000, PMNs ≥50%
Glucose level >40 mg/dl over serum glucose level

Elevated WBC ≥10,000, PMNs ≥50%
Glucose level >40 mg/dl over serum glucose level

≥ ≥
Elevated WBC

Examination for crystals under polarized light

Examination for crystals under polarized light

Examination for crystals under polarized light