Knee Examination Flashcards
Traumatic onset of knee pain that occurred while jumping. twisting or changing direction with the foot planted
ACL, patella subluxation, quad rupture, meniscal tear
Traumatic injury with posterior directed force to the tibia with knee flexed
PCL
traumatic injury with varus or valgus force on knee
LCL or MCL
Anterior knee pain with jumping with full knee flexion
patellar tendonitis
patellofemoral pain syndrome
Swelling in the knee with occasional locking or clickin
Mensical Tear
Loose body within knee joint
Pain with prolonged knee flexion, during squats, and while going up and down stairs
patellofemoral pain syndrome
pain and stiffness in the morning that diminishes after a few hours
OA
Ottawa Knee Rule for Radiography For knee fractures
1/5= have to have a radiograph
Age > 55
isolated patellar tenderness without other bone tenderness
Tenderness to fibular head
inability to flex knee to 90
inability to bear weight immediately after injury
Functional Movements to test during exam
Sit to stand
gait
Stairs
How to measure Tibiofemoral angle
Normal = 170-175 Less= valgum (165) More= varum (180)
measure between the axis of femur and tibia
Q- Angle and how to measure it
standing with knee extended
align with ASIS, Tibial tuberosity and Patella as axis
Normal = 10-15
Larger the Q angle predisposes to patellar subluxation
If you have a large Q angle what are you predisposed to
Patellar Subluxation
Tibial Torsion ( the twist in the tibia itself) And how to measure it
Sitting, Knee flexed to 90
fingers of malleoli
then looking down over distal thigh visualize the axes of the knee and ankle
should be 13-18 angle due to lateral tibial rotation
Increased lateral torsion= increases Q angle
Internal torsion= leads to pronation
How to measure the position of the patella
Knee flexed to 60 degrees and measure the height of the patella and length of the tendon
Alta= patella tendon is longer by 15-20% than patella height - tight quads
Baja= patellar tendon is 15-20% shorter than patella height
How many measures do you need for edema?
3
Rapid onset of edema what could be wrong? ( within 1 hour)
patella dislocation, osteochondral fracture, ACL
Intermediate edema (6-12 hours) what could be wrong?
Capsular tear, peripheral meniscus tear, ACL
What is the Ballottement test
Looks for joint effusion
Pt is supine, pushing from prox and distal knee to center and then push patella posteriorly towards femur
(+)
patella bounces off with distinct impact
What is the Milking Test
move fluid to inferior suprapatellar area then to medial area from lat joint line= all fluid will be inferior and medial
Then tap medial area and fluid will then float back to lateral side of joint
Easiest way to palpate the medial mensci
Medial rotate Tibia- will disappear with Lat rotation
Easiest way to palpate lat menisci
slight knee flexion - will disappear with full extension