Which joint is most commonly involved in native septic arthritis in adults?
- A Knee ✓
- B Hip
- C Ankle
- D Shoulder
Correct answer: A. Knee
Explanation
The knee accounts for roughly half of all cases of native septic arthritis in adults, followed by the hip, ankle and shoulder. The hip predominates only in infants and young children, where transphyseal spread from a metaphyseal focus is possible. The large size, superficial synovial vascularity and frequency of pre-existing degenerative disease make the knee the commonest target in adults.
Reference: Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine, 21st ed.
High-yield for: NEET PGINI-CETNExTFMGEUSMLEPLABMRCP
Written and medically reviewed by the StethoPrep medical team.