A knee aspiration, also known as arthrocentesis, is a procedure in which a needle is inserted into the knee joint to remove excess fluid. The fluid is then sent to a laboratory for analysis to determine the cause of the excess fluid, which can help guide treatment.
Knee aspirations are often performed to diagnose or treat conditions such as arthritis, gout, or infections. The procedure is usually performed in a doctor's office or clinic and takes only a few minutes. It is generally a safe and effective way to remove excess fluid from the knee joint and can provide relief from pain and swelling.