musculoskeletal and connective tissue disorders
How To Do Knee Arthrocentesis
Equipment for Knee Arthrocentesis
Antiseptic solution (eg,chlorhexidine, povidone iodine, isopropyl alcohol), sterile gauze, and gloves Nonsterile underpads Local anesthetic (eg, 1%lidocaine, 25- to 30-gauge needle, 3- to 5-mL syringe) For joint aspiration, a 51-mm (2-inch) 18- or 20-gauge needle and 20- to 60-mL syringe For large effusions, multiple syringes, plus either a hemostat or a three-way stopcock, may be needed Appropriate containers for collection of fluid for laboratory tests (eg, cell count, crystals, cultures) For intra-articular therapeutic injection, a syringe containing a corticosteroid (eg,triamcinoloneacetonide 20 to 40 mg ormethylprednisoloneacetate 40 to 80 mg) and/or a long-acting anesthetic (eg, 0.25%bupivacaine), a 23- to 25-gauge needle, and a hemostat to help switch syringes, if needed 