Joint Aspiration and Injection Bursal Aspiration and Injection Casting and Splinting Flashcards
Joint Aspiration dx ?
Obtain synovial fluid for analysis
**arthrocentesis **
Joint Aspiration therapeutic ?
Relieves discomfort of painful effusion
Allows for more accurate joint exam
Joint Aspiration is a invasive procedure so what is important ?
Sterile technique is mandatory!
Joint Aspiration: Each joint has _____________ and sites for needle placement
specific landmarks
Joint Aspiration what can increase guidance ?
US
Joint Aspiration Significant amount of fluid can ?
accumulate in the knee
be prepared with proper equipment
Joint Aspiration Indication ?
Painful effusion – traumatic or rheumatic
Articular inflammation of unknown cause:
Viscosity Crystal examination Cell count Bacterial culture Gram stain PCR studies
Joint Aspiration contraindication ?
Needle must go through infected skin:
- Cellulitis, burn, infected subcut tissue, impetigo
- Can seed joint with bacteria
After total arthroplasty
-Unless done by orthopedic specialist
Hemarthrosis in a patient with hemophilia or on anticoagulants
Joint Aspiration potential complications ?
Bleeding
Infection
Pain
Intra-articular injury
Reaccumulation of fluid
Injury to vascular or neural structures
Allergic reaction
Bursal Aspiration potential complications ?
Infection
Pain
Chronic recurrence
Chronic drainage via a sinus tract
Acute recurrent swelling
Patient Preparation – Knee Aspiration ?
Obtain informed consent
May uncover joint instability
Will briefly sting
May need additional tx
- Immobilization
- Antibiotic/antiinflammatory meds
- Hospitalization
- Referral to specialist
Materials Needed ?
Tray table
Sterile drapes
Sterile gloves
Povidone-iodine solution
1% lidocaine
Sterile 1” 25-G needle and sterile 5-10 mL syringe
Sterile 1 ½” 18-G needle
Three sterile 20-30 mL syringes
Sterile hemostat - squeeze tip of needle so it is not
dripping
Vacutainer tubes as indicated
Crystals tube/contianer ?
Red- or green-top, 0.5 mL
RA latex
Red top, 0.5 mL
Total protein
Red-top, 0.5 mL
Glucose
Red- or gray-top, 0.5 mL
Mucin clot
Red-top, 0.5 mL
Cell count
Purple-top, 1 mL
Routine culture
0.5 mL, Send in syringe
Gram stain
0.5 mL, Send in syringe
TB culture
0.5 mL, Send in syringe
Fungal culture
0.5 mL, Send in syringe
Vacutainer Tubes ?
tubes needed for what you want to check for ( know what u want to test for so you have the appropriate tubes available )
Procedure ?
Position patient appropriately
Perform 10 minute scrub
Drape area, if desired
Prepare a sterile field
Don sterile gloves
Draw up lidocaine
5 mL or 10 mL syringe
Anesthetize the skin
ID landmarks for needle placement
Procedure, cont’d 1 ?
Advance the needle
Aspirate for blood
Note resistance of joint capsule
Withdraw needle while injecting lidocaine
Attach 18 G to 20 or 30 mL syringe
Introduce into anesthetized track
Keep gentle pressure on plunger while advancing
Procedure, cont’d 2 ?
Enter joint space
-Briefly painful for patient
Aspirate synovial fluid
-When syringe is full, put hemostat on needle hub. Remove syringe and replace with an empty one. Put pressure above knee joint to empty SPP. Continue until joint space is empty.
Procedure, cont’d 3 ?
Once empty, intra-articular med can be administered (lido/depomedrol)
Withdraw needle
Apply direct pressure with a sterile dressing for several minutes
Apply sterile dressing
Label specimens and send
Follow-up Instructions ?
Advise patients to avoid use of joint for at least one day, longer if traumatic effusion
Contact office if sudden reaccumulation of fluid or signs of infection
Knee Joint Aspiration, knee mainly ________ ? for what ?
extended
To narrow retropatellar space
Bursitis: Numerous ______ around joints
bursae
Bursitis: May accumulate fluid, usually due to ?
inflammation from external mechanical irritation
Bursitis: Intrabursal scar tissue ?
Feels like small nodules
Can develop early
Can cause pain
Bursal Aspiration reduces and relieves what ?
Relieves discomfort
Reduces restriction of movement
Bursal Aspiration decreases risk of ?
Chronicity
Spontaneous drainage
Infection of stagnant bursal fluid
Bursal Aspiration – Patient Prep ?
Informed consent - Risk of infection, bleeding, reaction to anesthesia, ongoing pain, fluid may reaccumulate
Procedure takes 5-10 min after a 10 minute scrub
Bee sting sensation from lidocaine, lasts <30 sec
After care – rest and protect, possible ATB or anti-inflammatory meds
Bursal Aspiration - Procedure ?
Position patient
Prepare sterile field
Perform 10 minute scrub
Don sterile gloves, drape area
Draw up 1 mL lidocaine, administer with 25-27 G
needle
Administer lido under the skin
Bursal Aspiration - Procedure cont’d ?
Switch to 18 G and a larger syringe
Aspirate slowly until bursa is flat
Apply direct pressure over puncture site
Dress joint with adhesive bandage and elastic compression wrap
Lab and send specimen
Splint facts ?
Rigid
Encases only part of the circumference ( wrapped with ace bandage )
Must be secured
Less protection but allows for swelling
May be all that is needed for soft tissue injury
Cast facts ?
Rigid
Encases the circumference of the extremity
Applied after acute swelling has subsided
Better for fracture stabilization
Patient Assessment: Examine ?
Skin
Neurovascular status – 5 Ps
Soft tissues
Bony structures
5P’s: pain, pulse, pallor, paresthesia, paralysis
Indications for Casts and Splints ?
Simple, acute nondisplaced fractures
Reduced joint dislocations
Soft tissue injuries
- Severe strains/sprains
- Tendon lacerations
- Deep lacerations across joints
Some congenital deformities
Foot and ankle ulcers
Cast vs. Splint: Splint ?
More often used in primary care
During acute swelling phase
Simple or stable fxs
Sprains
Tendon injuries
Cast vs. Splint: Casts ?
Definitive and/or complex fx management