Is a knee infection an emergency?

Go to emergency care now if

• One knee became hot, swollen and very painful over hours to a day or two
• You cannot bend it or bear weight because of pain
• You have a fever, chills or feel generally unwell
• The knee had an injection, aspiration or surgery in recent days or weeks
• You have diabetes, a weak immune system, a knee replacement, or you inject drugs
• A child has a hot, swollen knee and will not walk

If in doubt, go. It is far better to be checked and reassured than to lose time.

What not to do

• Do not wait days to see whether it settles
• Do not start leftover antibiotics at home: they can mask the infection and make the diagnosis harder, without curing it
• Do not have a steroid injection into a knee that might be infected
• Do not rely on painkillers that lower the fever to decide whether it is serious

What happens at the hospital

The doctors usually draw fluid from the knee with a needle and send it for cell count, crystals and culture, ideally before antibiotics. Blood tests check inflammation markers and blood cultures. If infection is likely, antibiotics through a vein are started, and the joint usually needs to be washed out, often by keyhole surgery. Gout and pseudogout can look very similar, which is why the fluid test matters.

Who looks after it in Doha

In Doha, septic arthritis is treated in hospital by an orthopaedic team working with infection specialists. Dr. Gelber at Aman Hospital treats knee infections, including washout surgery and follow-up rehabilitation. If you are already under his care after an injection or operation, contact the team immediately, and go to the nearest emergency department if you cannot reach them quickly.