ABSTRACT
Joint complaints make an important component of musculoskeletal system [IMSK] diseases. In this write-up the importance of a clinical approach for categorizing joint diseases based upon the number of involved joints [monoarthritis or polyarthritis], duration of disease [<6 weeks - acute; >6 weeks - chronic] and whether the problem is inflammatory or non-inflammatory in nature, has been highlighted. Classifying patients on these clinical grounds helps in streamlining their management [e.g. primarily a problem of physician-rheumatologist, a physiatrist - rehabilitation expert or a joint surgeon]. It provides the appropriate management strategy for such patients
Subject(s)
Humans , Pain , Arthritis , OsteonecrosisABSTRACT
A patient is described with acute meningococcaemia and arthritis, but without meningitis. Although he had a positive blood culture, repeated synovial fluid cultures were sterile. Over the course of his illness and as his septicemia recovered with antibiotic treatment, the pattern of his arthritis changed from that of a polyarthritis to oligoarthritis and then a monoarthritis of the left knee. The knee deteriorated in fact while all the other features showed complete recovery. Repeated aspirations of the knee involved did not help. However, a local injection of a depot preparation of methylprednisolone into the involved knee led to a quick and complete recovery. This paper reviews different patterns of arthritis due to meningococcal infection and discusses its management
Subject(s)
Humans , Male , Arthritis/diagnosisABSTRACT
This case report describes a young Lebanese man with acute polyarthritis, fever and tender erythematous nodules on both shins. The nodules had the appearance of typical erythema nodosum [EN]. An algorithmic approach to acute arthritis with erythema nodosum led to a diagnosis of Lofgren's syndrome that is a variety of acute sarcoidosis. Differential diagnosis of acute arthritis with EN in males is discussed