Joint Aspiration Center - Altoona, PAAltoona Orthopedic Surgeon Doctors for Joint AspirationType of Physician: Orthopedic Surgeon What is a Orthopedic Surgeon ? A certification by the Board of Orthopaedic Surgery; practitioners focus on the investigation, preservation and restoration of the form and function of the extremities, spine and associated structures by medical, surgical and physical means. Birth defects, trauma, infections, tumors and metabolic disturbances of the musculoskeletal system are problems cared for by the orthopaedic surgeon. Specialty: Orthopaedic Surgery Common Name: Orthopedist Orthopedic Surgeon Doctors in Altoona * Andrew W Gurman MD  Tri County Orthopedics  Blair Orthopaedic Associates & Sports Medicine  Blair Orthopaedic Associates & Sports Medicine  Blair Orthopaedic Associates & Sports Medicine  Blair Orthopaedic Associates & Sports Medicine  David S Girdany MD  Trevor Yardley MD  Rodolfo S Polintan MD PC  Brian E Gunnlaugson MD  Highland Orthopaedics Inc  Valley Orthopaedics Inc  West Pennsylvania Orthopedic & Sports Medicine  West Pennsylvania Orthopedic & Sports Medicine  West Pennsylvania Orthopedic & Sports Medicine  West Pennsylvania Orthopedic & Sports Medicine  West Pennsylvania Orthopedic & Sports Medicine  Penn Orthopaedics Sports Medicine & Physical Therapy  Penn Orthopaedics Sports Medicine & Physical Therapy  Penn Orthopaedics Sports Medicine & Physical Therapy  Werner Eye Associates PC  University Orthopaedics Center  University Orthopaedics Center  University Orthopaedics Center  University Orthopaedics Center  University Orthopaedics Center  Du Bois Regional Medical Center Orthopaedics  Du Bois Regional Medical Center Orthopaedics  Du Bois Regional Medical Center Orthopaedics  Center for Orthopedics & Sports Medicine  Center for Orthopedics & Sports Medicine  Center for Orthopedics & Sports Medicine  Center for Orthopedics & Sports Medicine  Michael Pollack MD  Somerset Central Medical Associates Ltd  Family Health Associates Orthopedic Surgery  Family Health Associates Orthopedic Surgery  Erie Regional Health Center Physician Services  Cumberland Valley Orthopedic Assoc  Cumberland Valley Orthopedic Assoc  Cumberland Valley Orthopedic Assoc  Cumberland Valley Orthopedic Assoc  Excela Health Orthopedics  Excela Health Orthopedics  Bruce A Hershock MD  Excela Health Orthopedics  Laurel Highlands Orthopedics  Jack D Smith MD  Excela Health Orthopedics  Excela Health Orthopedics  Excela Health Orthopaedics  Subrata Barua MD  Spine Center  Gregory Bisignani MD  Greengate Orthopedic Group  West Penn Orthopaedics  Orthopedic & Sports Medical Associates  David C Baker MD  Conservative Orthopaedics  Lazaros N Sotos MD  Allan J Mira MD  Gettysburg Orthopaedics  Gettysburg Orthopaedics  Pittsburgh Foot & Hand Center  Three Rivers Orthopedic Surgical Associates  Three Rivers Orthopedic Surgical Associates  Champion Orthopedics & Sports Medicine  Champion Orthopedics & Sports Medicine  Champion Orthopedics & Sports Medicine  Greater Pittsburgh Orthopaedic Associates  Greater Pittsburgh Orthopaedic Associates  Greater Pittsburgh Orthopaedic Associates  Greater Pittsburgh Orthopaedic Associates  Greater Pittsburgh Orthopaedic Associates  Allegheny Orthopaedic Associates  Orthopaedic Associates of Pittsburgh Inc  Orthopaedic Associates of Pittsburgh Inc  Orthopaedic Associates of Pittsburgh Inc  Orthopaedic Associates of Pittsburgh Inc  Orthopaedic Associates of Pittsburgh Inc  UPMC Orthopaedics  UPMC Orthopaedics Altoona, PennsylvaniaUpcoming Local Events2012-06-08
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Joint Aspiration (Arthrocentesis)Read the Joint Aspiration (Arthrocentesis) article » What is a joint aspiration?A joint aspiration is a procedure whereby a sterile needle and syringe are used to drain fluid from the joint. Joint aspiration is typically performed as an office procedure or at the bedside of hospitalized patients. Joint aspiration is medically referred to as arthrocentesis. What is the purpose of joint aspiration?Joint aspiration is used to obtain joint fluid for examination in the laboratory. Analysis of joint fluid can help to define causes of joint swelling or arthritis, such as infection, gout, and rheumatoid disease. Joint fluid can be tested for white cell count, crystals, protein, glucose, as well as cultured to detect infection. Each of these laboratory parameters can be helpful in defining the cause of a particular form of arthritis. Joint aspiration can also be helpful in relieving joint swelling and pain. Removal of joint fluid that is inflamed can also remove the white blood cells within that are sources of enzymes that can be destructive to the joint. Occasionally, cortisone medications are injected into the joint during the joint aspiration in order to rapidly relieve joint inflammation and further reduce symptoms. How is joint aspiration performed?The skin over the joint is sterilized using a liquid, typically iodine solution (Betadine). Local anesthetic is used in the area of the joint; either by injection, topical liquid freezing, or both. A needle with a syringe attached is inserted within the joint an fluid is sucked back (aspirated) into the syringe. For certain conditions, the doctor will also inject medication into the joint after fluid removal. The needle is then removed and a Band-Aid or dressing is applied over the entry point. What are complications of joint aspiration?Complications of joint aspiration are uncommon. Possible com... Recommended Reading Related to Joint Aspiration (Arthrocentesis)Hydroxyapatite Crystal Disease » What is hydroxyapatite?Hydroxyapatite is the major component, and an essential ingredient, of normal bone and teeth. It is hydroxyapatite that makes up bone mineral and the matrix of teeth. What are hydroxyapatite crystals?Hydroxyapatite molecules can group together (crystallize) to form microscopic clumps, called hydroxyapatite crystals. Tiny crystals of hydroxyapatite sometimes form in or around joints and can cause inflammation of joints and tissues around the joints, such as tendons and ligaments. They have been described particularly as a cause of rotator cuff inflammation of the shoulder. The inflammation caused by hydroxyapatite crystals has been referred to as hydroxyapatite crystal disease. Is hydroxyapatite crystal disease the same as gout or pseudogout?No. These conditions are similar in that they are all caused by the inflammation that results from... Other Related Joint Aspiration ArticlesEmergency Contact for Altoona
Nearby Altoona Hospitals *Altoona Regional Health System Bon Secours Hospital Campus Altoona Regional Hospital James E Van Zandt VA Medical Center HEALTHSOUTH Altoona Rehabilitation Hospital Nason Hospital Tyrone Hospital Miners Medical Center J C Blair Memorial Hospital Windber Medical Center Crichton Rehabilitation Center Memorial Medical Center Lee Campus Good Samaritan Medical Center Memorial Medical Center Select Specialty Hospital Johnstown UPMC Bedford Memorial Mount Nittany Medical Center Featured Articles*Provider Directory Terms of Use: The WebMD 'Provider Directory' is provided by WebMD for use by the general public as a quick reference of information about Providers. The Provider Directory is not intended as a tool for verifying the credentials, qualifications, or abilities of any Provider contained therein. Inclusion in the Provider Directory does not imply recommendation or endorsement nor does omission in the Provider Directory imply WebMD disapproval. |
Suggested Reading on Joint Aspiration (Arthrocentesis) by Our Doctors
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Related Diseases & Conditions
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Gout
- Gout is a condition that results from crystals of uric acid depositing in tissues of the body. Gout is a condition that can lead to abnormally elevated levels of uric acid in the blood, recurring attacks of joint inflammation (arthritis), deposits of hard lumps of uric acid in and around the joints, and decreased kidney function and kidney stones.
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Knee Pain
- The knee joint is composed of three compartments and ligaments which stabilize the joint. Causes of knee pain may include injury, degeneration, infrequently infection and rarely bone tumors. Although routine x-rays do not revel meniscus tears, they can be used to exclude other problems of the bones and tissues. The knee joint is the most commonly involved joint in rheumatic disease, as well as immune diseases that affect various tissues of the body.
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Lyme Disease
- Lyme disease is a bacterial illness, which is spread by ticks when they bite the skin. Initially the disease affects the skin causing a reddish rash associated with flu-like symptoms. It takes weeks to months after the initial redness of the skin for its effects to spread throughout the body. Lyme disease can be treated with antibiotics. Lyme disease can be prevented by using tick avoidance techniques.
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Rheumatoid Arthritis
- Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease that causes chronic inflammation of the joints, the tissue around the joints, as well as other organs in the body. Because it can affect multiple other organs of the body, rheumatoid arthritis is referred to as a systemic illness and is sometimes called rheumatoid disease.
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Hydroxyapatite Crystal Disease
- Hydroxyapatite crystal disease is the inflammation caused by hydroxyapatite crystals. These tiny crystals of hydroxyapatite deposit by mistake in or around joints and may cause inflammation of the joints and nearby tissues such as the tendons and ligaments (particularly causing rotator cuff problems in the shoulder). Treatment options include rest, cold application, medications to reduce inflammation, and cortisone-related medication injections.
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Arthritis
- Arthritis is inflammation of one or more joints. When joints are inflamed they can develop stiffness, warmth, swelling, redness and pain. There are over 100 types of arthritis including osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, psoriatic arthritis, lupus, gout, and pseudogout.
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Chronic Pain
- Chronic pain is pain (an unpleasant sense of discomfort) that persists or progresses over a long period of time. In contrast to acute pain that arises suddenly in response to a specific injury and is usually treatable, chronic pain persists over time and is often resistant to medical treatments.
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Brucellosis
- Brucellosis is an infectious disease caused by the Brucella bacteria. Symptoms and signs include sweating, fever, fatigue, dizziness, headache, cough, chest, joint, and abdominal pain, and enlarged liver and/or spleen. Brucellosis is treated with antibiotics.
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Plant Thorn Synovitis
- Plant thorn synovitis (plant thorn arthritis) is joint inflammation caused by a thorn puncturing the joint and leaving residual plant matter in the joint. Symptoms and signs include swelling, reddish discoloration, loss of range of motion, pain, tenderness, and stiffness. Treatment involves a surgical procedure called a synovectomy with joint lavage to remove the affected joint lining tissue and thorn fragments.
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Gout
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