Joint Clinical Consensus Statement of the American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons^® and the American Association of Nurse Practitioners™: Etiology, Diagnosis, and Treatment Consensus for Gouty Arthritis of the Foot and Ankle

Gout is a condition that commonly affects the foot and ankle, and practitioners who treat these structures should be aware of the methods used to diagnose and treat this form of arthritis. Practitioners also need to recognize extra-articular manifestations of the disease. Although the acutely red, hot, swollen joint is a common presentation, chronic tophaceous gout can be associated with pain, nodule formation, and cutaneous compromise. Since the underlying causes that lead to excessive monosodium urate deposition may be treatable, early and accurate diagnosis has been very beneficial and may even prevent articular degeneration. In this clinical consensus statement, gout as it affects the foot and ankle is discussed.

Duke Scholars

Author Elaine Dorean Kauschinger School of Nursing

Author Michael Edward Zychowicz School of Nursing