Question

A 33-year-old man presents with pain and swelling in his left knee since yesterday. He has also had a fever with a maximum temperature of 102.3°F. Physical exam reveals swelling of the left knee with erythema and warmth noted. There is pain with passive range of motion. What is the most likely diagnosis?

a) Bursitis
b) Gout
c) Osteoarthritis
d) Septic arthritis

Answer 1

The most likely diagnosis for the patient described is septic arthritis, a severe infection in the joint presenting with rapid onset of pain, swelling, warmth, erythema, and fever.

Step-by-step explanation:

The most likely diagnosis for a 33-year-old man presenting with pain, swelling, erythema, warmth in the left knee, and fever is septic arthritis. Septic arthritis, also known as infectious arthritis, is characterized by rapid onset of severe joint pain, swelling that limits the motion of the affected joint, and is often accompanied by fever. This condition is commonly caused by bacterial pathogens like S. aureus and can be introduced into the joint through the bloodstream following an injury or surgery. In adults and young children, the bacteria are introduced directly through an injury and spread to the joint via the circulatory system. Given the acute presentation of symptoms and systemic signs of infection like fever, septic arthritis is more consistent with these clinical findings than the other conditions mentioned.