What is arthrocentesis?

What is arthrocentesis?

• A. Surgical replacement of a joint
• B. Collection of urine
• C. Injection into a joint
• D. Collection of joint fluid

Answer: (D)

Collecting fluid from a joint with a needle and syringe defines arthrocentesis. This procedure withdraws synovial fluid for analysis or to relieve joint swelling, helping diagnose conditions like septic arthritis, inflammatory or crystal-induced arthritis, and to monitor disease. It is not surgical replacement of a joint (that would be arthroplasty), not collection of urine (that would be a urinary sample collection), and not injection into a joint (that would be an intra-articular injection to deliver medication).

Collecting fluid from a joint with a needle and syringe defines arthrocentesis. This procedure withdraws synovial fluid for analysis or to relieve joint swelling, helping diagnose conditions like septic arthritis, inflammatory or crystal-induced arthritis, and to monitor disease. It is not surgical replacement of a joint (that would be arthroplasty), not collection of urine (that would be a urinary sample collection), and not injection into a joint (that would be an intra-articular injection to deliver medication).