Prep area with betadine or chlorhexadine using circular motion moving away from joint x 3
Drape joint in sterile fashion
Inject lidocaine with 25-30ga needle superficially and then into deeper tissues
Insert 18ga needle (for larger joints) into joint space while pulling back on syringe
Stop once you aspirate fluid; aspirate as much fluid as possible
Send: cell count, culture, Gram Stain, crystal analysis
Send: cell count, culture, Gram Stain, crystal analysis
Place<unk>  in 90o flexion, resting on a table, with hand prone
Locate radial head, lateral epicondyle, and lateral aspect of olecranon tip
These landmarks form the anconeus triangle
Palpate a sulcus just proximal to the radial head (in the middle of the triangle)
Insert needle into sulcus directed medial and perpendicular to radius toward distal end of antecubital fossa
These landmarks form the anconeus triangle
Arthrocentesis: elbow
Arthrocentesis: ankle
Arthrocentesis: shoulder
Arthrocentesis: wrist
Arthrocentesis: knee
Arthrocentesis: hip
Arthrocentesis: toe
Arthrocentesis: finger