Clinical Practice and Cases in Emergency Medicine

Introduction: Septic arthritis is a destructive form of acute arthritis that requires expeditious recognition. as delayed treatment yields significant morbidity and mortality.

Case Report: A 40-year-old male presented to the emergency department with right elbow pain. Examination revealed tachycardia, swelling, redness, tenderness, and decreased range of motion of the right humeroulnar joint. Synovial fluid analysis was consistent with an inflammatory etiology, but blood and joint cultures ultimately revealed Haemophilus influenzae.

Discussion: This case highlights the importance of trusting clinical findings over laboratory evidence in patients with suspected septic arthritis.