Common Musculoskeletal Problems: Knee Flashcards
List the causes of pain in the knee
- Trauma and overuse
- Periarticular problems
a. Anterior and medial knee pain
b. Meniscal tears
c. Cruciate ligament tears - Acute monoarthritis
a. Gout
b. Pseudogout
c. Reiter’s disease
d. Septic arthritis - Oligoarthritis - spondyloarthritis
- Polyarticular - RA
- Popliteal cyst / ruptures cyst
- Osteochondritis dessicans
- Hypermobility syndrome
- Referred from hip
Which collateral ligament of the knee is most commonly affected and how does it present?
Medial collateral ligament
- Pain at insertion into upper medial tibia
- Worse on standing or stressing
What is anserine bursitis and who does it most commonly affect?
Inflammation of anserine bursa just below the pes anserinus.
- Pain and localised tenderness
- 2-3 cm below posteromedial joint line in upper tibia
Affects:
- Obese women, often with valgus deformities
- Breast-stroke swimmers
How is medial knee pain treated?
- Physiotherapy
2. Local steroid injection
What age group are most commonly affected by anterior knee pain?
Adolescents
What is ‘anterior knee pain syndrome’ and how is it treated?
- No specific cause found
- Pain settle with time
Advise:
- Isometric quadriceps exercise
- Avoid heels
- Reassurance
What are the causes of anterior knee pain?
- Pre- and infrapatellar bursitis
- Osgood-Schlatter disease
- Patellar tendinopathy
- Abnormal patellar tracking
- Hypermobility of joints
- Idiopathic (‘anterior knee pain syndrome’)
What is ‘housemaid’s knee’ and what is the main complication?
Pre- or infrapatellar bursitis caused by unaccustomed kneeling 1. Local pain 2. Tenderness 3. Fluctuant swelling Rx: avoidance and steroid injection Complcation: septic bursitis
A 14 year old patient presents with pain and swelling over the tibial tubercle. He is an enthusiastic sportsman. What is the most likely diagnosis?
Osgood-Schlatter disease - a traction apophysitis of the patellar tendon, uncommon over age 16
What is ‘jumper’s knee’?
Patellar tendonitis - an enthesitis at the patellar end of the tendon due to overuse of extensor mechanism; typically basketball or volleyball players.
Rx: RICE
How is chondromalacia patellae diagnosed?
Arthroscopically - retropatellar cartilage is fibrillated
When is surgery indicated for chondromalacia patellae?
- Patellar misalignment
2. Recurrent patellar dislocation in adolescent girls
A patient presents with medial knee pain, joint-line tenderness and a locked flexed knee. The patient reports swelling within a few hours. What is the most likely diagnosis?
Meniscal tear
How would you manage a suspected meniscal tear?
- Immediately apply ice
- MRI demonstrates tear
- Operative Rx:
- Early arthroscopic repair or trimming of torn meniscus - Physiotherapy - quads
A patient presents with knee pain and immediate swelling following an injury in dance class. The anterior draw test is positive. What is the most likely diagnosis?
Anterior cruciate ligament tear