Question

A 68-year-old man admitted with pneumonia develops a painful, swollen right knee with limited range of motion and fever 38.8 °C. What is the MOST appropriate initial diagnostic step?

Accepted Answer

Aspirate the joint for Gram stain, culture and crystal analysis

Answer

Start empiric antibiotics without investigations

Answer

Order CT scan of the knee

Answer

Order Doppler ultrasound

Answer

Order plain X-ray only

Practice question

A 68-year-old man admitted with pneumonia develops a painful, swollen right knee with limited range of motion and fever 38.8 °C. What is the MOST appropriate initial diagnostic step?