please answer needed

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please answer needed

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3 Posts

deals
Forum Senior

Topics: 38
Posts: 83

02/11/05 - 12:51 AM

dear who re studying from kaplan notes in internal medicine kaplan notes
in the reumatology chapter there is a case after the gout page it says a patient came with ankle swelling and there is question sayin what is the first step to diagnose !and if he comes back again after three monthes with knee swelling what is the first step now ! please this case is after the gout in rheumatology chapter
if anyone has a clue can he help me plse thanks

junekat
Forum Newbie

Topics: 8
Posts: 15

02/11/05 - 12:31 PM

I think that if a patient came in with ankle swelling especially without a h/o recent trauma and there is a erythematous, swollen, tender or non-tender, the 1st step is to always do arthrocentesis of the joint. If the athrocentesis gives the diagnosis of negatively, birefringence needle shaped crystals, it is most certainly gouty arthritis. If the pt returns three months later with swollen, erythematous knee joint, then you need to again do an athrocentesis of the joint to be sure that you are not missing pseudogout or septic arthritis. All in all athrocentesis is 1st step.

deals
Forum Senior

Topics: 38
Posts: 83

02/13/05 - 03:47 AM

thanks

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