Knee joint examination summary

Question 1

look at skin

Answer 1

scars erythema

Question 2

look at soft tissue

Answer 2

swelling joint effusion muscle wasting eg quads wasting with OA of knee

Question 3

look at bones

Answer 3

valgus or varus deformities

Question 4

look at gait

Answer 4

antalgic gait

Question 5

feel skin

Answer 5

temp

Question 6

feel soft tissue

Answer 6

swelling effusion

Question 7

how to feel for an effusion

Answer 7

stroke test

tenderness [patellar tendon tenderness, collateral ligament tenderness, joint line tenderness]

Question 8

patellar tendon tenderness can mean

Answer 8

patellar bursitis or tendinitis

Question 9

collateral ligament tenderness can mean

Answer 9

collateral ligament sprain

Question 10

feel bone

Answer 10

bone tenderness

Question 11

move

active and passive movement ROM

Answer 11

Flexion 130

Extension 0

Question 12

move

resisted movement

Answer 12

check knee muscle strength/ any pain on resisted movements flexion or extension

Question 13

special tests

Answer 13

Ant and post draw test
Medial and Lateral collateral ligament test
McMurray's test
Patellar Apprehension test
Lachmans test

Question 14

Ant draw test

Answer 14

Pt supine knee flexed 90 check hamstrings are relaxed, examiner applies posteroanterior force/ant glide on the tibia. excessive laxity compared to the other side = positive test

Question 15

Post draw test

Answer 15

Pt supine knee flexed 90 check hamstrings are relaxed, examiner applies anteroposterior force to tibia. Tests PCL integrity. excessive laxity compared to the other side = positive test

Question 16

Medial and Lateral collateral ligament test position

Answer 16

Pt supine knee in 30 flexion, excessive laxity/pain compared to opposite side = positive test

Question 17

Medial collateral ligament test force applied?

Answer 17

Valgus, abduction

Question 18

Lateral collateral ligament test force applied?

Answer 18

Varus, adduction

Question 19

McMurray’s test tests what?

Answer 19

medial and lateral meniscus

Question 20

McMurray’s test how to do it

Answer 20

pt supine, examiner passively fully flexes knee in lateral rotation, while palpating the medial joint line. The joint is then moved from full flexion to extension with rotation maintained.

Question 21

Patellar Apprehension test

Answer 21

Pt lying supine with their knee at 30 flexion and quads relaxed. Carefully glide patella laterally closely observing apprehension in the patient = positive test

Question 22

Lachmans test how? Right knee

Answer 22

knee held in 15o of flexion and in lateral rotation, relaxes iliotibial band.
hold inner aspect of upper part of the right lower leg in your right hand, outer aspect of the lower part of the thigh with your left hand. On ant gliding of the tibia, the examiner will feel a firm end-feel if the ACL is intact. Always compare both sides

Question 23

McMurray’s test positive test = medial meniscal tear

Answer 23

click felt over the medial joint line

Question 24

Lachmans test tests what?

Answer 24

ACL

Question 25

Positive Lachmans test

Answer 25

if the end-feel is loose and not firm.