Needle Arthroscopy for Bacterial Arthritis of a Native Joint: Surgical Technique for the Shoulder, Elbow, Wrist, Knee, and Ankle Under Local Anesthesia.

Suspected bacterial arthritis of a native joint requires urgent management to control potential life-threatening sepsis and limit cartilage damage. Diagnosing bacterial arthritis is often challenging and relies on diagnostic tests with low accuracy. A high threshold for surgery poses a risk of undertreatment, whereas a low threshold for surgery could lead to overtreatment with unnecessary invasive and costly procedures.