Joint Pain Differential Diagnosis

NP Certification Q&A

A 45-year-old woman presents for a sick visit with a chief complaint of 2–3-day sudden onset right elbow swelling with pain, stating, “I’ve never had pain like this. It looks like I have a swollen ball hanging from my elbow”.  She denies recent or remote injury to the area, fever, pain in other joints or skin lesions, and does report recently spending an extensive period of time on her computer due to a major work project. Physical exam reveals an area of painful sac-like swelling behind the right elbow, slightly warm, without redness or evidence of trauma. Joint range of motion (ROM) elicits discomfort but is largely intact. This clinical presentation is most consistent with: 

A. Rheumatoid arthritis 

B. Tendonitis 

C. Olecranon bursitis

D. Septic arthritis

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YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-OeTKUMeBBo&list=PLf0PFEPBXfq592b5zCthlxSNIEM-H-EtD&index=23

Visit fhea.com to learn more!

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A 45-year-old woman presents for a sick visit with a chief complaint of 2–3-day sudden onset right elbow swelling with pain, stating, “I’ve never had pain like this. It looks like I have a swollen ball hanging from my elbow”.  She denies recent or remote injury to the area, fever, pain in other joints or skin lesions, and does report recently spending an extensive period of time on her computer due to a major work project. Physical exam reveals an area of painful sac-like swelling behind the right elbow, slightly warm, without redness or evidence of trauma. Joint range of motion (ROM) elicits discomfort but is largely intact. This clinical presentation is most consistent with: 

A. Rheumatoid arthritis 

B. Tendonitis 

C. Olecranon bursitis

D. Septic arthritis

---
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-OeTKUMeBBo&list=PLf0PFEPBXfq592b5zCthlxSNIEM-H-EtD&index=23

Visit fhea.com to learn more!

2023-06-19 10 min Transcript
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