Knee Examination

Question 1

On inspection of the knees (patient standing), what should you look for (back and front)?

Answer 1

Mal-alignment of the legs (gene vacuum or valgum)

Wasting of quadriceps muscle bulk

Swelling, redness, deformity or scars of knee

Question 2

What are possible back of knee pathology?

Answer 2

Baker’s cyst or a popliteal artery aneurysm

Question 3

What parts of the knee joint should you palpate?

Answer 3

Tibial tuberosity

Patellar tendon

Margins of patella

Quadriceps tendon

Fibular head

Tenderness in joint margins

Question 4

If quadriceps wasting is suspected, where should you measure?

Answer 4

Thigh circumference 10cm above the superior margin of the patella

Question 5

If the patient cannot fully extend the knee when leg is lifted, an extensor lag is present. What might this indicate?

Answer 5

Quadriceps weakness or other abnormalities of the extensor apparatus

Question 6

What does crepitus between the patella and femoral condyles suggest?

Answer 6

Chondromalacia patellae or osteoarthritis

Question 7

When might restriction of full extension of the knee occur?

Answer 7

Meniscal tears, osteoarthritis and inflammatory arthritis

Question 8

For completeness, what else should you offer?

Answer 8

Compare with contralateral joint

Examine hip

Examine ankle

Assess gait