A knee puncture is performed by puncturing the joint through the skin. This procedure can be prescribed for diagnostic or therapeutic purposes. The doctor will take some fluid from the joint for analysis. If necessary, then a contrast agent or air is introduced into the joint cavity. This may be required for x-rays.
The results of the study are very informative, therefore, based on them, the doctor can make the correct diagnosis. If we talk about medicinal purposes, then the collected blood or inflammatory contents can be removed from the joint. Washing of the joints with antiseptic preparations and administration of drugs can also be carried out.
Such a procedure quickly improves the patient’s condition and relieves him of pain and discomfort. For certain diseases, doctors regularly prescribe a knee puncture and introduce hormonal drugs into the patient’s body.
It is worth noting that a surgeon, traumatologist or orthopedist can perform a puncture of the knee joint. All manipulations should be carried out exclusively under sterile conditions. Most often, 60 milliliters of fluid can be removed from the knee joint of an adult using this procedure.
After that, the puncture should be washed with an antiseptic solution. To achieve a noticeable therapeutic effect, it is necessary to carry out repeated procedures. In order to prevent the reappearance of fluid in the knee joint, a plaster splint or orthosis is used.
The main problem in which a puncture of the knee joint is prescribed is synovitis. Often the procedure is prescribed in order to determine the presence of a particular pathology. Despite the fact that the puncture is far from the most pleasant and comfortable procedure, its results allow you to immediately identify the problem.
Puncture of the knee joint can be used both for the diagnosis of the disease and for its treatment. It is worth noting that most pathologies can be cured much more effectively by this method. For example, if you treat any problem with medications, side effects from the gastrointestinal tract may occur.
If you use an ointment, it will not be properly absorbed into the skin, or the body will not perceive it. During the treatment of pathologies in the knee joint, the drug is injected into the sore spot with a needle. If there is blood or pus in the knee, then they are removed in this way in just a few seconds.
Indications for the procedure
Why is it so important to notice the symptoms in time and consult a specialist? If a patient has suspected hemarthrosis of the knee joint, this is an indication for a puncture. With this disease, hematomas in the joints tend to slowly resolve. If the blood is not removed from the cavity in time, inflammation or another complication may begin.
With synovitis, which arose in a person after injuries, a medicine is injected into the knee that promotes the restoration of cartilage. For arthritis, the doctor must remove pus from the knee joint and administer antibacterial and anti-inflammatory drugs.
In addition, the patient may have a Baker’s cyst. In this case, a formation consisting of fluid is found in the popliteal fossa. With the help of a puncture, the doctor can remove this fluid. Also, this procedure is prescribed for dislocations and other injuries of the knee. In such cases, an anesthetic, for example, novocaine, is injected into the joint.
If the procedure is carried out for the purpose of diagnosis, then a puncture is necessary to determine the nature of the fluid in the joint. In addition, this study is prescribed for reactive arthritis and for the diagnosis of infectious complications.
Contraindications and cautions
A puncture of the knee joint can only be performed if the patient does not have wounds, rashes, psoriasis and other problems at the site of the proposed puncture. The doctor cannot perform the procedure if there is even the slightest wound, as an infection can enter the human body. People who have problems with blood clotting should receive medical training.
If the procedure is performed by an experienced doctor and takes into account all the nuances, problems and complications should not arise.
In rare cases, infection of the elbow cavity and rupture of the synovial membrane are possible. In addition to these complications, some patients may develop an allergy to drugs and dermatitis around the puncture. It is worth noting that these side effects do not depend on the qualifications of the specialist. To prevent these troubles, you should consult a doctor in advance and take into account all possible cases.
Stages of the procedure
Knee puncture should be performed under sterile conditions and only by a specialist. During the procedure, the patient should lie on the couch on his back. The legs at this time should be relaxed. In order for the muscles not to be in tension, a small dense roller can be placed under the knee or under the heel.
In the puncture area and the entire knee joint, the skin is treated with an antiseptic, after which the doctor must perform local anesthesia. Most often, the skin is chipped with lidocaine. For puncture, a syringe is required, the needle diameter of which is 1 or 2 millimeters. The localization of the puncture is selected individually by the doctor. A qualified specialist must find a place where muscles and cartilage are not felt, move the skin and make a puncture. To understand whether the needle has penetrated into the joint can only be felt.
After that, the doctor removes the fluid from the knee joint in a certain amount and sends part of it for research. If necessary, the joint cavity is washed with an antiseptic and a drug is injected. After the procedure is completed, a sterile dressing is applied to the skin. If the puncture was performed due to the accumulation of blood in the joint, then the bandage should be pressure.
In order to secure the procedure, the technique with skin shifting, which was mentioned earlier, is used. This makes it possible to close the puncture with intact skin, as it returns to its place after the doctor releases it. In this way, infection can be prevented from entering the joint from the outside.
A puncture of the knee joint is a rather specific procedure that cannot be performed independently, as it can be extremely dangerous for health and may lead to impaired mobility.