Symptoms, Causes, and Treatments for Septic Arthritis

8. Fluid Drainage

The starting point for many septic arthritis patients is fluid drainage from the affected joints. This type of treatment involves the use of a needle to drain the synovial fluid from the joints, cleaning the area and helping to ease pain and swelling. The most successful treatments work in conjunction with antibiotics. Fluid drainage is especially important because, without it, the condition can quickly worsen and lead to irreparable damage. Elderly patients are at high risk of developing septic arthritis due to preexisting diseases and infections. As such, special precautions are recommended to reduce the risk of infection.