Knee Pain

Question 1

What secures the knee internally?

Answer 1

2 cruciate ligaments

Question 2

What secures the knee externally?

Answer 2

Collateral ligaments
Tendons
Muscles

Question 3

What are some causes of knee pain?

Answer 3

Injury to
- Ligaments
- Menisci
Loss of cartilage from osteoarthritis
Inflammation due to
- Rheumatoid arthritis
- Psoriatic arthritis
Inflammation of surrounding tendons and bursae
Referred pain

Question 4

From where is pain referred to the knee?

Answer 4

Hip

Back

Question 5

What does anterior knee pain suggest?

Answer 5

Osteoarthritis

Problem with patella

Question 6

What does lateral or medial knee pain suggest?

Answer 6

Ligament sprain

Meniscal tear

Question 7

What does posterior knee pain suggest?

Answer 7

Range of conditions

• Hamstring strain
• Bursitis
• Baker’s cyst
• Deep vein thrombosis

Question 8

Why is it important to ask about other sites of joint pain?

Answer 8

In case of arthritis, knee may be only one of many affected joints

Question 9

What might acute onset of knee pain suggest?

Answer 9

Trauma

Haemorrhage into joint

Question 10

What might slow onset of knee pain suggest?

Answer 10

Arthritis
Bursitis
Tendonitis

Question 11

At what times may pain and stiffness in the knee be worse?

Answer 11

In morning

After exercise

Question 12

What should you establish in the case of injury?

Answer 12

Exact mechanism by which it occurred

• Knee position
• Direction of force of injury

Question 13

What are the associated features of knee pain?

Answer 13

Swelling
Abnormal noises
- Clicking
- Popping sound in the case of an acute injury
Loss of function
- Stiffness
- Locking
- Giving way
- Difficulty walking

Question 14

What should you ask about in the case of chronic knee pain?

Answer 14

Impact on life

Question 15

In which direction does a valgus force occur to the knee, and what does it cause

Answer 15

Lateral to knee joint

Genu valgus

Question 16

In which direction does a varus force to the knee, and what does it cause?

Answer 16

Medial to knee joint

Genu varus

Question 17

Which structures are more likely to be damaged if the foot is planted during the injury?

Answer 17

Tendons

Question 18

How do the bones move at the knee if the foot is planted during a knee injury?

Answer 18

Femur moves over fixed tibia

Question 19

Which structures are more likely to be damaged if the foot is not planted during the injury?

Answer 19

Muscles

Question 20

How do the bones move at the knee if the foot is not planted during a knee injury?

Answer 20

Tibia moves over fixed femur

Question 21

How can the anterior cruciate ligament be injured?

Answer 21

Anterior translation of tibia on fixed femur, OR

Posterior translation of femur on fixed tibia

Question 22

Which cruciate ligament is most likely to be injured?

Answer 22

Anterior cruciate ligament