Knee - Fx, Dislocation, Patellorfemoral Joint Flashcards
Meniscus
- describe
- semi-lunar cartilage
- fibrocartilagenous disks
- aid in shock absorption and load distribution in knee during motion
- articulate with tibia
- concave in shape, thin to free medial edge
Meniscal injuries
- common cause
- combo of loading/shearing force on meniscus during rotation
- Mostly in young/healthy patient
- may be chronic
Meniscal injury in elderly often dt what
often atraumatic
- as simple as rising from seated position or stooping over to reach something on low shelf
Three zones of meniscal injury and description
- Red/Red: outer 1/3, plentiful blood supply from capsular margin of meniscus
- Red/White: middle 1/3, diminished vasculature, less capacity to heal
- White/white: completely avascular inner 1/3 (won’t heal)
Why is it important to know the meniscal zones?
- location dictates treatment
where are the majority of symptomatic meniscal tears?
inner 2/3 - where low/no capacity to heal
Meniscal tear presentation
- catching, locking, popping sensations
- one-sided knee pain (all medial or all lateral)
- effusion over 12-24 hours (slower than ACL/PCL)
Classic meniscal tear case
twisting injury playing basketball, small amt swelling the next day, now pain on stairs and catching sensation
Meniscal tear
- PE
- impingement causes pain at terminal ends of motion (flexion and extension)
- medial/lateral joint line pain at 90 degrees flexion
Meniscal tear
- special tests
- Apley’s (compression or distraction)
- McMurray’s (GS)
- Deep Squat/Duck walk: if can perform, unlikely have tear
What does McMurray’s actually test
compression with varus/valgus stress and terminal flexion/extension
**low sensitivity and specificity… difficult to reproduce pain…
Mensical tear
- imaging
XR
- weight-bearing
- AP and lateral minimum
- Specialty: bilateral with notch view
MRI
- GS (second only to diagnostic arthroscopy)
Who is a candidate for meniscal tear conservative tx
- Pt has well-tolerated sx
- no deficit in PROM (no locking)
- no medical co-morbiidities
Meniscal tear conservative treatment
- RICE
- oral NSAIDs
- intra-articular steroid injection
- activity modification
- bracing not effective other than effusion control
Who is a candidate for surgical tx for meniscal tear
- Sx affect ADL or athletics
- bucket-handle tear that blocks ROM
- lrg tear in repairable zone
Surgical tx of meniscal tear - three types
- partial menisectomy
- meniscal repair
- trephination
Tibial plateau fracture
- describe
- fx of tibial condyles just below joint line of knee
- generally above or includes tibial tubercle
Tibial plateau fracture
- locations
- 60% lateral condyle
- 15% medial condyle
- 25% bicondylar
Tibial plateau fracture
- Exam
- R/O compartment sx
- evaluate ligaments for injury
- test peroneal nerve function (foot drop)
Tibial plateau fracture
- Imaging
XR
- AP and lateral min
- oblique and bilateral comparison helpful
- CT if intra-articular depression or comminution (3D reconstruction!)
Tibial plateau fracture non-operative management
- describe fracture
- describe
- non-displaced or minimally displaced with stable knee on exam
- immobilization brace
- NWB
- referral
- early ROM
Tibial plateau fracture operative tx
- describe fracture
- majority
- displaced wedge
- condylar widening
- depression of articular surface **
- gross comminution
Patella fracture
- MC dt what
- majority: direct trauma to patella (fall or blow)
- also forceful contraction of quads, usually = avulsion fx of quad tendon or patellar tendon at distal patellar pole
Patella fracture
- presentation
- severe anterior knee pain
- knee held in full extension with little to no ROM
- large effusion
- ecchymosis and potentially low leg edema
- usually unable to bear weight
Patella fracture
- imaging
XR
- 3 view of knee (AP, lateral, oblique)
- sunrise if possible
- bilateral helpful
- CT with 3D reconstruction if possible
- MRI might be helpful if no CT/pt can remain still
Patellar fracture types
Direct trauma
- comminution common
- articular cartilage damage
Indirect trauma
- less comminution
- transverse fx
Displacement of patellar fractures
- 2 descriptions
- any incongruence of articular surface >2mm
2. greater than 3mm separation of fragments
Patellar fractures nonoperative treatment
- when appropriate
- tx options
If non-displaced and extensor mechanism is intact and can actively straight leg raise
- aspirate tense hemarthrosis
- knee immobilizer brace x 4-6 wks
- slow, progressive ROM with PT after 4-6 weeks
- quad strengthening