A 62-year-old man with rheumatoid arthritis and a prosthetic knee joint presents with an acutely swollen, hot and very painful knee. He is febrile at ...

Question

A 62-year-old man with rheumatoid arthritis and a prosthetic knee joint presents with an acutely swollen, hot and very painful knee. He is febrile at 38.5°C. What is the most appropriate immediate management?

Accepted Answer

Urgent joint aspiration, send synovial fluid for microscopy and culture, and start empirical intravenous antibiotics

Answer

Start oral NSAIDs and arrange routine orthopaedic review

Answer

Start disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) immediately

Answer

Give intra-articular steroid injection in primary care

Answer

Advise rest and ice packs with review in 1 week

uk-plab-1 MCQ (SBA): Septic arthritis

A 62-year-old man with rheumatoid arthritis and a prosthetic knee joint presents with an acutely swollen, hot and very painful knee. He is febrile at 38.5°C. What is the most appropriate immediate management?