Knee Flashcards
Medial Collateral Ligament Function
- resists valgus force
- resists knee extension
- resists extremes of axial rotation, especially knee external rotation.
Common MOI for MCL
- valgus producing force with foot planted
- severe hyperextension of the knee
Lateral Collateral Ligament Function
- resists varus
- resists knee extension
- resists extremes of axial rotation
Common MOI for LCL
- varus producing force with foot planted
- severe hyperextension of the knee
Posterior Capsule Function
- resists knee extension
- oblique popliteal ligament resists knee ER
- posterior lateral capsule resists varus
Common MOI for posterior capsule
-hyperextension OR combined hyperextension with knee ER of knee
ACL function
- resist extension
- resists extremes of varus, valgus, and axial rotation
Common MOI for ACL
- large valgus producing force with foot firmly planted
- large axial rotational torque applied to the knee with foot firmly planted
- any combo of valgus force with axial rotation, especially with strong quadricep contraction with the knee in full or near full extension
- severe hyperextension of the knee
Function of PCL
- resist knee flexion
- resists extremes of varus, valgus, and axial rotation
Common MOI for PCL
- falling on a fully flexed knee with ankle plantar flexed so tibia hits ground first.
- forceful posterior translation of the tibia
- large axial rotation or valgus-varus applied torque to the knee with foot firmly planted
- severe hyperextension of the knee causing a large gapping of posterior joint
ACL incidence of re-tear
- 8% tear ipsilatarel ACL
- 7% tear contralateral ACL
When do non-contact ACL injuries happen
- happen during deceleration and acceleration motions with excessive quadriceps contraction, and reduced hamstring contraction at or near full extension
- risk increases when combined with knee internal rotation, or excessive valgus load during weight bearing deceleration activities.
Common ways of PCL injury
- dashboard (posterior force to tibia) 38.5%
- fall on flexed knee with foot plantarflexed 24.6%
- sudden hyperextension of knee 11.9%
ACL incidence of re-tear
- 8% to ipsilateral ACL
- 7% to contralateral ACL
- Higher in pts <25 years of age
When do non contact ACL injuries happen
During deceleration and acceleration motions with excessive quadriceps contraction and reduced hamstring contraction at or near full extension.
Likelihood of returning to sport post ACLR
- 81% return to some level of sport
- 65% return to preinjury level of sport
- 55% return to competitive level of sport
Risk factors for developing ACL tear
- dry weather conditions and artificial turf
- female
- narrow intercondylar femoral notch
- lesser concavity depth of the medial tibial plateau
- Greater anterior/posterior tibiofemoral joint laxity
- prior ACLr
- familial predisposition
Diagnosis of ACL tear can be made with reasonable certainty with the following criteria…
- MOI consistent with a deceleration and acceleration motions with non contact valgus load at or near full extension. -
- hearing or feeling a “pop” at time of injury
- hemarthrosis 0-12 hours after injury
- hx of giving way
- (+) lachman test
- (+) pivot shift test
Diagnosis of PCL tear can be made with reasonable certainty with the following criteria…
- posterior directed forece on the proximal tibia, a fall on a flexed knee with plantarflexed foot, or a sudden violent hyperextension of the knee joint
- localized posterior knee pain with kneeling or deceleration
- (+) posterior drawer test at 90 degrees
- posterior sag of proximal tibia
Diagnosis of MCL tear can be made with reasonable certainty with the following criteria…
- trauma buy a force applied to the lateral knee or LE
- rotational trauma
- medial knee pain with valgus stress test
- increased separation between femur and tibia with valgus stress test
- TTP over MCL
Diagnosis of LCL tear can be made with reasonable certainty with the following criteria…
- varus trauma
- localized swelling over the LCL
- TTP over the LCL
- lateral knee pain with varus stress test
- increased separation between femur and tibia with varus stress test
Expected symmetry in single limb hop tests
- 76%-90% 6 months post ACLr
- 88%-95% 12 months post ACLr
- 92%-99% 24 months post ACLr
Single leg hop tests
- hop for distance
- crossover hop for distance
- 6 meter timed hop
Meniscus lesion statistics
- women have greater incidence than men
- lateral tears are more likely to occur in younger pts and medial tears are more likely in older pts.
- increased prevalence of meniscus tears with ACL tears
- > 45 y/o likely to have menisectomy, <35 years old likely to have meniscus repair
Methods of operation for articular cartilage damage
- arthroscopic lavage and debridement
- microfracture (used in younger patients)
- autologus chondrocyte implantation (ACI)
- osteochondral autograft transplantation (OAT)
Arthroscopic lavage and debridement
- typically for knee OA
- clean out joint space
Microfracture
- cartilage is cleaned up
- small microfractures made 3-4mm apart
- 75-80% of patient report significant pain relief
Autologus chondrocyte implantation
- surgeon harvests some articular cartilage then isolates the chondrocytes in the lab
- 6-8 weeks later chondrocytes are implanted over the articular cartilage defect
Osteochondral autograft transplantation
- small chunk of bone and damage cartilage removed
- new piece of bone and healthy cartilage is re-implanted, can be autograft or allograft
- self reported better outcomes in athletes compared to ACI and microfractures
Risk factors for articular cartilage damage
- athletes in cutting and pivoting sports are at increased risk
- women, older age, increased BMI, decreased physical activity, and delayed ACLr are risk factors for medial meniscus tears.
- women, older age, increased BMI, longer symptom duration, previous procedures and surgeries, and lower self reported knee function are associated with higher failure rates with articular cartilage repair procedures
Diagnosis of meniscus tear can be made with fair certainty with the following findings…
- twisting injury
- tearing sensation at time of injury
- delayed effusion (6-24 hours post injury)
- hx of “catching” or “locking”
- pain with forced hyperextension
- pain with maximum passive knee flexion
- pain or audible click with McMurray’s test
- joint line tenderness