Knee Injuries

Question 1

what things can you tear in your knee? (6)

Answer 1

• medial and lateral collateral ligaments
• anterior and posterior cruciate ligaments
• medial and lateral meniscus

Question 2

your medial meniscus is attached to your _______

Answer 2

medial collateral ligament

Question 3

what is the unhappy triad?

Answer 3

ACL tear
MSL tear
and medial meniscal tear

Question 4

what is the function of the ottawa knee rules?

Answer 4

rules to help determine when imaging (XR) is needed for an acute knee injury

Question 5

what is the ottawa knee rules criteria?

Answer 5

1. > = 55Y
2. inability to bear weight for 4 steps immediately post injury or in emerg
3. inability to flex knee to 90 degrees
4. tenderness at the head of the fibula
5. isolated patella tenderness

Question 6

common mechanisms of injury for a medial collateral ligament injury are (3)

Answer 6

1. valgus stress
2. traumatic/contact blow on lateral aspect of the knee with valgus force
3. non-traumatic twisting/pivoting movement with valgus and external rotation force

Question 7

common mechanisms of injury for a lateral collateral ligament injury are (1)

Answer 7

1. traumatic blow from medial aspect of the knee with excessive varus force/stress

Question 8

common mechanisms of injury for a anterior cruciate ligament injury are (2)

Answer 8

1. traumatic force from lateral aspect of the knee (unhappy triad)
2. non-traumatic pivoting motion with tibia translated anterior whilst knee is in flexion and inwardly rotated (valgus)

Question 9

common mechanisms of injury for a posterior cruciate ligament injury are (3)

Answer 9

1. dashboard injury where tibia is translated posteriorly with a flexed knee
2. non-contact pivoting injury w/ planted food and hyperextended knee
3. traumatic hyperextenion injury

Question 10

what mechanism of injury is common in meniscus tears? (1)

Answer 10

twisting injuries in the weight bearing knee

Question 11

what imaging options are best to confirm a suspected ligament tear and the extent of injury?

Answer 11

an XR knee +/- joint above below

an MRI knee +/- joint above below ➔ will give you the most detail about potential concurrent pathologies to primarily suspected injury

Question 12

what kind of management options do you have for knee injuries?

Answer 12

nonoperative
- RICE: rest, ice, compression, and elevation
- NSAIDs
- PT/rehab for ROM and muscle strengthening
- consider bracing

operative
- ligament repairs or reconstruction