Knee examination

Question 1

what do you look for in an knee examination

Answer 1

3. Asks patient to stand and inspects knee joint from the front, and side looking for obvious scars, swelling (particular Baker’s cyst) and deformities (varus/valgus).
4. Asks patient to lie back on the couch and performs closer inspection for scars, swellings, erythema, and for muscle wasting in quadriceps.

Question 2

what do you say in a knee examination

Answer 2

when feeling you say what is being felt - I can feel the tibial tuberosity

Question 3

what do you do in the anterior draw test

Answer 3

Make sure the patient’s knee is flexed at 90°
 Stabilise the foot (e.g. by asking the patient if it’s alright if you sit on it)
 Firmly pull the tibia forwards

Question 4

how do you do the posterior draw test

Answer 4

Make sure the patient’s knee is flexed at 90°
 Stabilise the foot (e.g. by asking the patient if it’s alright if you sit on it)

 Firmly push the tibia backwards

Question 5

what is the knee joint

Answer 5

The knee is a hinge joint between Femoral and Tibial condyles (Note the patella articulates only with the femur)

Question 6

what does the patella articulate with only

Answer 6

the femur

Question 7

describe the lateral collateral ligament

Answer 7

Lateral collateral is strong and cord-like. It runs from the lateral epicondyle of the femur superiorly to the head of fibula inferiorly and,

Question 8

describe the medial collateral ligament

Answer 8

Medial Collateral is a flat band that runs from a hands- breadth above the joint line superiorly to a hands breadth below the joint inferiorly

Question 9

describe the anterior collateral ligament

Answer 9

The Anterior passes from medial and anterior on the Tibia, superiorly to posterior and lateral on the femur

Question 10

what is the brusa that can be damaged

Answer 10

that an effusion within the joint which may extend from the suprapatellar region, down either side of the patella. It will also extend posteriorly into the popliteal fossa, and whilst this is not usually visible or palpable, may herniate posteriorly to form a ‘Baker’s Cyst’

Question 11

where do the flexors attach to

Answer 11

o Biceps Femoris laterally (attaching to lateral
condyle of tibia and head of fibula)
oSemimembranosusmedially(attachingtomedial
condyle of tibia)
o Semitendinosusmedially(attachingtomedial
surface of tibia below the condyles)

Question 12

describe how to test for a moderate effusion

Answer 12

Patella Tap: Milk any fluid out of suprapatellar pouch and gently press patella onto femur - does it tap and spring back against your fingers? Some texts suggest this picks up an increase of 15-20-30ml

Question 13

describe how to test for a small effusion

Answer 13

Bulge sign: empty suprapatellar pouch and keep it empty with one hand. Empty one para- patellar pouch (perhaps the medial) with a stroking motion, then empty the other parapatellar pouch whilst observing the other side for a bulge of fluid to appear.

Question 14

what is the movement range for flexion and extension

Answer 14

0 to 150 degrees

Question 15

what is lachmans test

Answer 15

Lachman’s test is another sign for cruciate ligament damage, which probably has a higher sensitivity.

Question 16

what is mcmurray test

Answer 16

The McMurray Test is useful for meniscal injuries, particularly posterior,