Wrist Joint Aspiration

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Indications

General arthrocentesis indications

  • Suspicion of septic arthritis
  • Suspicion of crystal arthropathy
  • Evaluation of therapeutic response for septic arthritis
  • Unexplained arthritis with synovial effusion
  • Evaluation of joint capsule integrity if overlying laceration
  • Relative: therapeutic (decrease intra-articular pressure, injection of anaesthetics/steroids)

Contraindications

General arthrocentesis contraindications

  • No absolute contraindications for diagnostic arthrocentesis
  • Do not inject steroids into a joint that you suspect is already infected
  • Relative Contraindications:
    • Overlying cellulitis
    • Coagulopathy
    • Joint prosthesis (refer to ortho)

Equipment Needed

General arthrocentesis equipment

  • Betadine or Chlorhexadine
  • Sterile gloves/drape
  • Sterile gauze
  • Lidocaine
  • Syringes
    • Small syringe (6-12cc) for injection of local anesthetic
    • Large syringe (one 60cc or two 30cc) for aspiration
  • Needles
    • 18 gauge: knee
    • 20 gauge: most other joints
    • 25 gauge: MTP joints
    • 27 gauge for anaesthetic injection
  • Collection tubes (red top and purple for crystal analysis)
  • Culture bottles
  • Consider utilizing U/S to assess for effusion

Procedure

Wrist arthrocentesis

General Setup

  • Prep area with betadine or chlorhexadine using circular motion moving away from joint x 3
  • Drape joint in sterile fashion
  • Inject lidocaine with 25-30ga needle superficially and then into deeper tissues
  • Insert 18ga needle (for larger joints) into joint space while pulling back on syringe
  • Stop once you aspirate fluid; aspirate as much fluid as possible
    • Send: cell count, culture, gram stain, crystal analysis

Specific Approach

  • Palpate landmarks with wrist in neutral position:
    • Radial tubercle of distal radius
    • Anatomic snuffbox
    • Extensor pollicis longus tendon
    • Common extensor tendon of index finger
  • Insert needle perpendicular to skin, ulnar to radial tubercle and anatomic snuffbox, between extensor pollicis longus and common extensor tendons

Evaluation

Arthrocentesis of synoval fluid

Synovium Normal Noninflammatory Inflammatory Septic
Clarity Transparent Transparent Cloudy Cloudy
Color Clear Yellow Yellow Yellow
WBC <200 <200-2000 200-50,000

>1,100 (prosthetic joint)

>25,000; LR=2.9

>50,000; LR=7.7

>100,000; LR=28

PMN <25% <25% >50%

>64% (prosthetic joint)

>90%

Culture Neg Neg Neg >50% positive
Lactate <5.6 mmol/L <5.6 mmol/L <5.6 mmol/L >5.6 mmol/L
LDH <250 <250 <250 >250
Crystals None None Multiple or none None
  • Viscosity of synovial fluid may actually be decreased in inflammatory or infectious etiologies, as hyaluronic acid concentrations decrease
  • The presence of crystals does not rule out septic arthritis; however, the diagnosis is highly unlikely with synovial WBC < 50,000[1]

Complications

General arthrocentesis complications

  • Pain
  • Infection
  • Re-accumulation of effusion
  • Damage to tendons, nerves, or blood vessels

External Links

References

  1. โ†‘ Shah K, Spear J, Nathanson LA, Mccauley J, Edlow JA. Does the presence of crystal arthritis rule out septic arthritis?. J Emerg Med. 2007;32(1):23-6.