To determine the frequency of adverse events of diagnostic arthrocentesis in patients with possible gout.
Consecutive patients underwent arthrocentesis and were evaluated at 6 weeks to determine adverse events. The 95% CI were obtained by bootstrapping.
Arthrocentesis was performed in 910 patients, and 887 (97.5%) were evaluated for adverse events. Any adverse event was observed in 12 participants (1.4%, 95% CI 0.6-2.1). There was 1 case (0.1%, 95% CI 0-0.34) of septic arthritis.
Diagnostic arthrocentesis is associated with a low frequency of adverse events. Septic arthritis rarely occurs.