Wrist/Hand Septic Arthritis

Definition:
Purulent invasion of a joint by an infectious agent which produces arthritis.
Symptoms:
  • Usually one joint is infected
  • Significant shoulder pain, especially with movement
  • Swelling in the shoulder
  • Redness in the shoulder
  • Warmth on the shoulder
Causes:
  • Trauma
  • Dog bite
  • Bacterial injection most common- Bacteria are carried by the bloodstream from an infectious focus elsewhere, introduced by a skin lesion that penetrates the joint, or by extension from adjacent tissue
  • Viral
  • Mycobacterial
  • Fungal
Treatment:
  • Seek medical advise
  • Intravenous antibiotics
  • Analgesia
  • Washout/aspiration of the joint to dryness