KNEE- Clinical Assessment Flashcards
What are the 4 main bursae likely to be inflammed in the knee
- Prepatella bursitis
- Infrapatella bursitis (superficial and deep)
- Pes anserine bursitis
- Suprapatellar bursitis
What isometric actions might you carry out to assess the knee
- Quadriceps
- Hamstrings
- Assess in varying lengths (muscle ranges)
What are the 5 stages of the Oxford Scale
- 0- No activity
- 1-Flicker of muscle activity
- 2-Full range with gravity eliminated
- 3-Full range against gravity
- 4- Full range against gravity and external resistance
- 5- normal power, R=L
Suggest 3 considerations to take into account if you believe the presenting complaint may be a bone fracture
- Mechanism of Injury – Trauma or overuse (tibial stress fracture) or fragility fracture of proximal femur.
- Age
- PMH – Osteoporosis, relative energy deficiency (REDS), long-term steriod use, Cancer
- Localised Pain worse on weight-bearing relieved when weight taken off. Limp.
- Osteosarcoma- child/young people, Constant pain, worse at night. Most common site is distal femur followed by proximal tibia.
During clinical examination, what might lead to you suspect an injury to the ACL
- Majority non-contact- knee externally rotated (10-30 degrees) then goes into varus and internal rotation e.g. in side-stepping or cutting movements.
- •Immediate swelling
- •Reduced movement especially inability to fully extend
- •Giving way on twisting movements
What’s most likely to cause Pes anserine bursitis
Sports that require repetitive use of S, G and ST e.g. running, cycling, breaststroke swimming and sports that require change of direction.
What are you looking to observe on clincal examination for suspected pes anserine bursitis
Palpation- local tenderness & Bursae- swelling +/- heat.
Observation – wide Q angle, knee valgus
Functional task – single leg squat, step up noting excessive valgus strain
For pes anserine and plica syndrome: Pain on repetitive active knee flexion and extension
Give three additional special questions you’d ask during a clinical examination of the knee
- Does your knee ever lock in a position that you can not move it? Yes/No
- Explain to me what happened to your knee the last time it happened. (?True locking)
- How often does this happen?
- Does you knee ever give way on you? (Yes/N0) Do you to fall on the floor? (Yes/No)
- Explain to me what happened to your knee the last time it happened (?True giving way)
- Swelling
What would the ideal examination look like to determine if there is a fracture present
- Palpation
- Observation and Functional task e.g. gait.
- Active range of motion
- (& Imaging i.e. Xray or MRI)
What would you palpate in the knee during clinical examination
- Skin- temperature, swelling, allodynia
- MCL/ LCL
- Joint line (meniscus)
- Patella (+ prepatellar, suprapatellar and infrapatellar bursa)
- Tibial tuberosity/ patella tendon
- Ischial tuberosity (hamstring tendons)
- Pes anserine/bursa (medial tibia, below joint line, at level of Tibial tuberosity)
- Plica (medial to paella over femoral condyle)
- Pulses – Popliteal, Posterior Tibial (between medial malleolus and TA), Dorsalis Pedis (lat to EHL distal to navicular)
During patient interview, what could suggest osgood schlatters disease as the diagnosis
- Age – Childhood
- Sporty children who complain of pain after sport.
- Develop a characteristic lump over tibial tuberosity
- Localised Pain and swelling
- Pain on isometric Quads
What would you assess for passive range of motion during clinical examination of the knee
Flex, Ext, Medial Rotation, Lateral Rotation
•Include over pressures and ‘END FEELS’ i.e. spongy or hard
What are the two special tests for the Upper Motor Nerves
- Babinski
- Clonus
What do the NICE guidlines suggest if you are concerned the diganosis may be RA
Treatment: Refer for specialist opinion any adult with suspected persistent synovitis of undetermined cause.
During observation (of the knee) what might you assess when standing
–Degree of valgus and varus
–Q-angle (ASIS to mid patella then patella tendon, normal 15-20 degrees)
–Leg length (skin creases, iliac crest)
–Patella size and position (alta-small, baja- low)
–Hyperextension of knee
–Whole kinetic chain