KNEE Flashcards
What type of joint is the knee joint?
Hinge type synovial joint
What forms the knee joint?
Distal femur, proximal tibia and patella
What are the 2 articulating surfaces in the knee joint?
Tibiofemoral - medial and lateral condyles of femur articulate with tibial condyles
Patellofemoral - anterior aspect of distal femur articulates with patella
Blood supply to the knee joint?
Genicular anastamoses around the knee - supplied by genicular branches of the femoral and popliteal arteries
Nerve supply to the knee?
Femoral, tibial and common fibular nerves - Hilton’s law states that a joint tends to be innervated by a branch of a motor nerve which also supplies a muscle extending and acting across the joint
What are the menisci in the knee?
These are 2 C-shaped fibrocartilage rings located within the knee joint to deepen the articular surface of the tibia and act as a shock absorbed due to increasing the SA.
Attachments of the medial meniscus?
Attached at both ends to the intercondylar area of the tibia
Fixed to the medial collateral ligaments and the joint capsule
attachments of lateral meniscus?
Attached to the intercondylar area of the tibia
No other attachments - smaller than medial meniscus and more mobile
What are bursae?
Sac-like structures containing small amounts of synovial lucid
Functions to decrease friction between tendons, bones and skin during movement
Bursae found in the knee?
Suprapatellar bursa
Prepatellar bursa
Infrapatellar bursa
Semimembranosus bursa
Where is the suprapatellar bursa located?
Between the quadriceps femoris and femur
Where is the prepatellar bursa located?
Between the apex of the patella and the skin
Where is the infrapatellar bursa located?
2- the deep bursa lies between the tibia and patella ligaments, and the superficial bursa lies between the patella ligament and the skin
Where is the semimembranosus bursa located?
Posterior to the knee joint between semimembranosus muscle and medial head of the gastrocnemius
What are the major ligaments in the knee joint?
Patella ligament
Medial and lateral collateral ligaments
Anterior and posterior cruciate ligaments
What is the patellar ligament?
Continuation of the quadriceps femoris tendon distal to the patella
Attaches to the tibial tuberosity
Function of the collateral ligaments in the knee joint?
To stabilise the hinge motion of the knee, preventing excessive medial or lateral movement
Where is the medial collateral ligament?
A wide, flat ligament found on the medial side of the joint
Proximal LH it attaches to the medial epicondyle of the femur and dismally it attaches to the medial condyle of the tibia
Where is the lateral collateral ligament?
Thin and rounder than medial ligament
Attaches proximaly to the lateral epicondyle of the femur and distantly to a depression on the lateral surface of the fibular head
Where is the anterior cruciate ligament?
Attaches at the anterior intercondylar region of the tibia where it blends with the medial meniscus
Ascends posteriorly to attach to the femur in the intercondylar fossa
Function of anterior cruciate ligament?
Prevents anterior dislocation of the tibia on the femur
Where is the posterior cruciate ligament?
Attaches at the posterior intercondylar region of the tibia and ascends anteriorly to attach to the anteromedial femoral condyle
Function of the posterior cruciate ligament?
Prevents posterior dislocation of the tibia on the femur
Movements of the knee joint?
Extension - produced by quadriceps femoris
Flexion - produced by hamstrings, gracilis, sartorius and popliteus
Lateral rotation (only when knee is flexed) - produced by biceps femoris
Medial rotation (only when knee is flexed) - produced by semimembranosus, semitendinosus, gracilis, sartorius and popliteus
What is chondromalacia patellae?
Aka patellofemoral pain syndrome
One of the most common causes of pain at the front of the knee due to overloading of the front of the knee, behind the kneecap
Who is chondromalacia patellae most common in?
Teenagers or young adults
Sports involving running and jumping
Symptoms of chondromalacia patellae?
Unilteral or bilateral anterior knee pain behind the patella - aching, gradul onset, aggravated by stairs/squatting/running/long periods of sitting
Sensation of instability
Diagnosing chondromalacia patellae?
Clinical diagnosis
Management of chondromalacia patellae
PT
Structured exercise programme
Presentation of osteoarthritis in the knee?
Activity related, persistent pain
Stiffness in the morning or after inactivity <30 mins
Impaired function
Crepitus and swelling
Painful or restricted movement
Bony enlargement
Referred pain to the knee causes?
Children:
SUFE
Septic arthritis hip
Transient synovitis hip
Perthes disease
Juvenile idiopathic arthritis hip
Adults:
OA od hip
Lumbar radiculopathy
Who does Osgood-Schlatter disease typically affect?
10-15 year olds
More common in males
Sporty teenagers
What is Osgood-Schlatter disease?
Osteochondrosis with traction apophysitis affecting the extensor mechanism of the knee
(Inflammation at tibial tubersotiy where patella ligament inserts)
Pathophysiology of Osgood-Schlatter disease?
Multiple minor avulsion fractures occur -> growth of tibial tuberosity forming a lump -> inflammation causes pain
Presentation of Osgood-Schlatter disease?
Unilateral gradul onset knee pain during adolescence localised to tibial tubersotiy
Relived by rest, worse with activity pressure and resisted knee extension
Prognosis Osgood-Schlatter disease?
Symptoms will fully resolve over time
Pt left with hard bony lump on knee
Complication of Osgood-Schlatter disease?
Rare - complete avulsion fracture = tibial tubersit separated from tibia (requires surgery)
Management of Osgood-Schlatter disease?
Reduce physical activity, ICE, NSAIDs
Physio and stretching can be used to improve function once Sx settle
Most common bursitis in the knee?
Prepatellar bursitis
Causes of bursitis?
Acute - trauma, infection, gout
Chronic - inflammatory arthropathies, repetitive pressure, overuse
Symptoms of pre-patellar bursitis?
Anterior knee swelling and pain with direct pressure/activity
May be a history of preceding trauma/pressure or bursal disease
Associated with more upright kneeling than infrapatellar bursitis