A 24-year-old man presents with a painful, swollen right knee following a twisting injury playing football. X-ray shows no fracture. The knee is swoll...

Question

A 24-year-old man presents with a painful, swollen right knee following a twisting injury playing football. X-ray shows no fracture. The knee is swollen but he is afebrile and systemically well. Which clinical feature would most strongly raise concern for septic arthritis rather than a simple traumatic effusion?

Accepted Answer

Joint warmth, severe pain with minimal passive movement, and fever

Answer

Onset immediately after trauma

Answer

History of previous ligament injury

Answer

Improvement with rest and NSAIDs over 24 hours

Answer

Ability to fully weight-bear with minimal discomfort

ca-mccqe1 MCQ (SBA): Septic arthritis - key clinical features