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hemarthrosis
Blood in a joint.
Etiology:
1) trauma
2) internal joint derangement
3) anticoagulation or coagulation disorder
- hemophilia
4) crystalline arthritis
a) gout
b) pseudogout
5) tumor
6) fracture of the patellar, femoral or tibial plateau
Clinical manifestations:
- tenderness directly over the bone suggests fracture
Laboratory:
-> examination of synovial fluid under polarized light for crystals characteristic of gout or pseudogout
Radiology:
-> MRI if trauma or internal derangement suspected
Management:
1) dependent upon specific etiology
2) therapeutic drainage of a non-infected joint
a) generally of little clinical utility
b) hemarthrosis generally returns after removal of fluid
c) spontaneous resolution is the rule
Related
joint effusion (knee effusion)
General
sign/symptom
joint disease; articular disease; arthropathy
internal hemorrhage
References
- Stedman's Medical Dictionary 26th ed, Williams &
Wilkins, Baltimore, 1995
- Geriatrics Review Syllabus, American Geriatrics Society,
5th edition, 2002-2004