RT Book, Section A1 Taylor, Todd A1 Khalid, Usama A1 Meer, Jehangir A2 Sherman, Scott C. SR Print(0) ID 1154630759 T1 Rheumatology T2 Simon's Emergency Orthopedics, 8e YR 2019 FD 2019 PB McGraw-Hill Education PP New York, NY SN 9781259860829 LK accessphysiotherapy.mhmedical.com/content.aspx?aid=1154630759 RD 2024/03/29 AB Although more than 100 different causes of arthritis exist, none is more important to the emergency physician than the diagnosis of septic (bacterial) arthritis. Mortality from untreated septic arthritis can be as high as 11%.1 The rapid destruction of articular tissue is inevitable and can occur in as little as 2 to 3 days. Most of the following diagnoses in this chapter are not made primarily in the emergency department (ED); instead, patients will come in for symptom control due to acute exacerbations. There are many overlapping themes found here, but most importantly, the emergency physician must be cautious as many of the following types of arthritis can mimic septic arthritis.