- Septic arthritis
- Crystal arthritis (gout, CPPD)
- Osteoarthritis
- Trauma e.g. haemarthrosis
Oligoarthritis (< or = 5 joints)
- Crystal arthritis
- Psoriatic arthritis
- Reactive arthritis (eg. Yersinia, Salmonella, Campylobacter)
- Ankylosing spondylitis
- Osteoarthritis
Polyarthritis (>5 joints involved)
- Symmetrical
- Rheumatoid arthritis
- Osteoarthritis
- Viruses (e.g. hepatitis A, B and C; mumps)
- Systemic conditions
- Asymmetrical
- Reactive arthritis
- Psoriatic arthritis
- Systemic conditions
ALWAYS EXCLUDE SEPTIC ARTHRITIS IN ANY ACUTELY INFLAMED JOINT, AS IT CAN DESTROY A JOINT IN UNDER 24 hours. INFLAMMATION MAY BE LESS OVERT IF IMMUNOCOMPROMISED (e.g. STEROIDS) or if there is underlying joint disease. JOINT ASPIRATION IS THE KEY INVESTIGATION, AND IF YOU ARE UNABLE TO DO IT, FIND SOMEONE WHO CAN.
HOWEVER, IF YOU GO AND ASPIRATE IN A FRACTURE YOU TURN AN OPEN FRACTURE TO FRACTURE.
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