Monoarthritis refers to the inflammation of one joint rather than multiple joints. It involves typical symptoms of arthritis, including joint pain, swelling, and stiffness.
According to a
Doctors base a diagnosis on medical history, a physical exam, lab tests, and imaging. The extent of the condition can help guide whether conservative or surgical intervention is necessary. Treatment is likely to entail using antibiotics or anti-inflammatory medications.
Keep reading to learn more about monoarthritis, including symptoms, causes, diagnosis, treatment, and when to seek medical attention.
Monoarthritis refers to the inflammation of a single joint. Inflammation
People can have acute or chronic monoarthritis. A condition is acute if it develops quickly and is short-term. A chronic condition develops more gradually but is long-term.
The specific joints involved vary with the cause. It may affect the:
- knee
- hip
- ankle
- wrist
- shoulder
It may also affect other joints.
Symptoms
The symptoms
The condition can also lead to a loss of the range of motion in the joint.
Some acute causes
Chronic arthritis usually manifests in more than one joint but may first manifest in a single joint. Some of the conditions that can lead to chronic arthritis include:
- osteoarthritis, a type of arthritis that causes cartilage around the bone ends to deteriorate
- rheumatoid arthritis, which happens when the immune system attacks tissues in the joints and other parts of the body
- spondyloarthritis, a condition that causes inflammation where tendons and ligaments attach to bones
Infections
Septic arthritis is joint inflammation due to an infection. Each year, it affects around
Although most of these infections result from bacteria, fungi, viruses, and other organisms can sometimes cause them. Typically, septic arthritis affects one major joint — such as the knee or hip — but it may also involve multiple smaller joints.
Although septic arthritis is uncommon, it poses an orthopedic emergency because it can produce considerable joint damage.
Learn more about septic arthritis.
Lyme disease
Lyme arthritis can be due to chronic infection in a joint or a post-reactive immune process without an ongoing infection.
The bacteria that causes Lyme disease can get into a joint and produce inflammation. It
- elbow
- shoulder
- wrist
- jaw
- ankle
- hip
Research indicates that
Crystal-induced arthritis
Crystal-induced arthritis occurs when deposits of crystals in joints lead to inflammation.
A
Gout most often affects the big toe. Pseudogout affects the knee more often. Additionally, this form of arthritis may affect the hands, wrists, shoulders, and ankles. Episodes commonly resolve within a few days but may last up to 3 weeks in some people.
Trauma
Joint injury or overuse
Diagnosing monoarthritis
- Personal and medical history: This includes asking a person about factors such as:
- recent trauma
- family history of joint conditions
- history of a joint replacement
- illnesses
- medication use
- travel history
- a skin wound or recent dental procedures
- Physical exam: This involves noting signs of inflammatory arthritis, such as swelling and warmth in a joint.
- Lab tests: These can involve the following:
- urinalysis
- blood chemistry
- culturing tests, which can identify infectious microbes causing infection in the joint
- Imaging: This may include:
Treatment options depend on the cause and severity. Generally, goals involve controlling pain and reducing joint damage.
For septic arthritis
Doctors treat septic arthritis using various means of joint fluid drainage. They
Options may include ceftriaxone (Ceftrisol Plus), an antibiotic effective against Neisseria gonorrhea, a sexually transmitted infection that is the
Another option is nafcillin (Nallpen) an antibiotic effective against Staphylococcus aureus, the most common cause of nongonococcal infections.
For Lyme disease
Treating arthritis from Lyme disease
- doxycycline (Acticlate, Doryx, Doryx MPC, Vibramycin-D)
- amoxicillin (Amoxil)
- cefuroxime (Zinacef)
If symptoms persist, doctors may recommend administering a second course of antibiotics through a vein. In such cases, ceftriaxone (Ceftrisol Plus) is the drug of choice.
Crystal-induced arthritis
Standard treatment
- corticosteroids, which are anti-inflammatory drugs, such as prednisone (Rayos)
- nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as ibuprofen (Motrin)
- colchicine (Colcrys), a medication that lowers inflammation stemming from the accumulation of crystals in a joint
- allopurinol (Zyloprim) and similar medications, which lower levels of monosodium urate or other substances that form crystals
- immune suppressants drugs, such as anakinra (Kineret), which suppress an overactive immune system
Trauma arthritis
Treatment of arthritis that follows a trauma can pose challenges, according to a
Surgery may be necessary to stabilize and restore the joint. Additionally, treatment may include:
- NSAIDs, such as ibuprofen (Motrin)
- corticosteroid injections, such as triamcinolone (Aristospan Intra-Articula)
- low impact exercise
- lifestyle changes, such as losing weight if a person is overweight
The outlook of a person with monoarthritis
For this reason, if an individual experiences symptoms such as those this article lists, they should immediately make an appointment with a doctor or rheumatologist.
Monoarthritis refers to inflammation that affects a single joint instead of multiple joints. It may manifest in joint pain, swelling, and stiffness.
Acute causes include infections, Lyme disease, crystal-induced arthritis, and trauma. Chronic causes include osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, and spondyloarthritis. It can help to begin treatment early. For a better outlook, a person with symptoms should not delay seeing a doctor.
Treatment methods vary and aim to address the underlying cause. For example, treatment of arthritis due to an infection will involve using an antibiotic or other antimicrobial agent.