A 7 year old boy with abrupt onset of pain in hip with hip held in abduction. Hemogram is normal. ESR is raised. What is the next line of management?
High-Yield Explanation
Synol fluid analysis allows most effusions to be classified as normal, inflammatory, non- inflammatory, infectious, or hemorrhagic. Each type of effusion suggests ceain joint diseases. So-called non-inflammatory effusions are actually mildly inflammatory but tend to suggest diseases with less inflammatory mechanisms. If infection is suspected, a poion of the synol fluid sample should be sent to the laboratory for Gram stain and culture. Synol fluid analysis provides a definitive diagnosis for infections and crystal ahropathies that rarely affect hip joints. Ref: Gurkan I., Mears S. (2007). Chapter 11. The Patient with Hip Pain. In J.B. Imboden, D.B. Hellmann, J.H. Stone (Eds), CURRENT Rheumatology Diagnosis & Treatment, 2e.