Monoarthritis

Monoarthritis, or monoarticular arthritis, is inflammation (arthritis) of one joint at a time (as opposed to oligoarthritis, which affects 2-4 joints, and polyarthritis, which affects more than 4 joints). It is usually caused by trauma, infection, or crystalline arthritis.

Septic arthritis
Septic arthritis is an inflammatory response to an infection (usually bacterial) in the joint. Usually impacting large joints like the hip or the knee, it is a medical emergency with a mortality rate of about 10%. It is treated with oral and intravenous antibiotics as well as joint drainage.

Gout
Gout is inflammation caused by the deposition of needle-shaped monosodium urate crystals in the joints. It is the most common type of inflammatory arthritis in the United States. The disease typically affects a single joint in earlier stages but can progress into polyarthritis over time. It usually occurs in cooler areas of the body, often starting in the big toe.

Pseudogout
Pseudogout (also referred to as calcium pyrophosphate dihydrate crystal deposition disease) is another type of crystalline arthritis that presents very similarly to gout but is caused by the deposition of rhomboid-shaped calcium pyrophosphate dihydrate (CPPD) crystals. The knees, wrists, and fingers are the most common joints affected by pseudogout.

Osteoarthritis
Osteoarthritis is a degenerative, or non-inflammatory arthritis. It is the most common type of arthritis, affecting between 19% and 30% of adults above the age of 45. It is caused by a progressive erosion of cartilage which eventually leads to bone damage. It is a polyarthritis, but it usually begins in a single joint. Unlike other types of monoarthritis, which normally have acute onset, onset of osteoarthritis is almost always insidious.

Psoriatic arthritis
Psoriatic arthritis is an inflammatory arthritis common in people with psoriasis. It often presents as asymmetric oligoarthritis (impacting 2-4 joints) affecting the distal interphalangeal joints, although it can appear in a single joint. Joint-area discoloration, dactylitis, nail changes, and enthesitis, are common symptoms of psoriatic arthritis that distinguish it from other forms of arthritis. Unlike other types of inflammatory arthritis, which typically affect women more than men, psoriatic arthritis has no gender preference.

Diagnosis
X-rays, MRI scans, and other types of imaging can show bone loss and erosion from degenerative arthritis or later stages of inflammatory arthritis. Laboratory testing, specifically microscopic synovial fluid examination, is a more accurate method of diagnosing arthritis. By performing a joint aspiration, physicians can check cell counts and look for signs of infection (bacteria/fungus) or crystal formation to determine which, if any, type of arthritis is present.

Treatment
Monoarthritis is treated the same way as other forms of arthritis. Minimizing pain, preventing disease progression, and improving joint function are the goals of arthritis treatment. Treatment can vary depending on the cause and severity of the condition. Physical therapy, acupuncture, and anti-inflammatory drugs are commonly used to treat the disease. In more severe cases, intra-articular corticosteroid injections or surgical joint replacement may be necessary. Joint drainage and antibiotics are used to treat septic arthritis. Medications that decrease uric acid can mitigate chronic gout symptoms.