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Primer on the Rheumatic Diseases pp 42–93Cite as

Musculoskeletal Signs and Symptoms

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Abstract

Pain or swelling of a single joint merits prompt evaluation to identify patients in need of urgent and aggressive care (1). Although there are many minor and easily managed causes of monarthritis, infectious arthritis with its risk of prolonged morbidity (and even mortality, if untreated) requires that this very serious problem always be considered. The underlying causes of monarthritis are divided into two groups: inflammatory diseases (Table 3A-1) and mechanical or infiltrative disorders (Table 3A-2). Triage into one of these categories is the first step in the differential diagnosis of monarthritis.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Medicine/Rheumatology, University of Pennsylvania, VA Medical Center, Philadelphia, PA, USA

    H. Ralph Schumacher MD (Professor)

  2. Department of Medicine/Rheumatology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA

    Lan X. Chen MD, PhD (Clinical Assistant Professor)

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  1. H. Ralph Schumacher MD
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Arthritis Foundation, Atlanta, GA, USA

    John H. Klippel MD (President and CEO) (President and CEO)

  2. Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA

    John H. Stone MD, MPH (Associate Physician, Deputy Editor for Rheumatology) (Associate Physician, Deputy Editor for Rheumatology)

  3. Division of Rheumatology & Women’s Health, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, USA

    Leslie J. Crofford MD (Gloria W. Singletary Professor of Internal Medicine, Chief) (Gloria W. Singletary Professor of Internal Medicine, Chief)

  4. Arthritis Foundation, Atlanta, GA, USA

    Patience H. White MD, MA (Chief Public Health Officer) (Chief Public Health Officer)

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Schumacher, H.R., Chen, L.X. (2008). Musculoskeletal Signs and Symptoms. In: Klippel, J.H., Stone, J.H., Crofford, L.J., White, P.H. (eds) Primer on the Rheumatic Diseases. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-0-387-68566-3_3

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