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Foreign body (palm thorn) in knee joint
Clinical Orthopaedics and Related Research
|September 1, 1978
Summary
Palm thorn injuries in children living in tropical regions can cause knee joint swelling. Diagnosis requires ruling out common causes and is confirmed by surgical exploration.
Area of Science:
- Orthopedics
- Pediatric Medicine
- Tropical Medicine
Background:
- Monarticular knee swelling in children in tropical/semitropical zones warrants thorough investigation.
- Differential diagnosis for pediatric knee effusions is broad, including infectious and traumatic etiologies.
Observation:
- A specific clinical presentation involves children with knee joint symptoms who play near palm trees.
- This history suggests a potential foreign body, specifically a palm thorn, as the causative agent.
Findings:
- Palm thorn penetration into the knee joint, though uncommon, presents as a treatable cause of monarticular swelling.
- Diagnosis is challenging, necessitating the exclusion of more prevalent conditions before considering surgical intervention.
Implications:
- Early consideration of palm thorn foreign bodies can prevent diagnostic delays in endemic areas.
- Surgical exploration remains the definitive diagnostic and therapeutic step for suspected intra-articular palm thorn injuries.