Gout of the Knee !
Gout of the knee is a painful attack of joint inflammation caused by uric acid (urate) crystals; the big toe is the classic first site.
Updated 2026-10-23
Structures involved
Tap one to see what it is and open it in 3D.
In the clinical exam
Why it happens
- Mediators of inflammation: the table to know
- Uric acid
- Purine degradation and salvage
- Synovial joints: capsule, synovial membrane and articular cartilage
What it is
Crystal arthropathy from monosodium urate crystals. The first attack is usually the big toe (podagra); the knee is also common.
Symptoms and signs
- Sudden severe pain, redness, and swelling
- Limited motion
Diagnosis
- Clinical
- Acute monoarthritis
- Tests
- Joint fluid showing negatively birefringent crystals
Treatment
- Acute
- Anti-inflammatory treatment for the acute attack.
- Medical
- Urate-lowering therapy for recurrent disease.
Related conditions
Educational information, not medical advice. For any symptom, see a health professional.
Sources: Gout (StatPearls (NCBI Bookshelf), 2024).
Spotted a mistake?We are always improving for the community. Tell us what is wrong and our team will review it.Report a mistake
Representative model, for educational purposes only.
