Knee Pathologies Flashcards
What are some common pathologies of the knee?
- Ligamentous injuries (ACL, PCL, MCL, LCL)
- Meniscus tears
- Tendon tears (quadriceps and patellar tendon tears)
- Knee sprain and strain
- Patellofemoral pain syndrome
- Iliotibial band syndrome
- Bursitis
- Tendonitis
- Genu valgus and genu varus
- Knee dislocation
- Patellar fracture
- Osteoarthritis
- Rheumatoid arthritis
What are some common pathologies of the knee due to insidious/overuse?
- Osteoarthritis / Rheumatoid arthritis
- Patellar Femoral Pain Syndrome (PFPS)
- Patellar tendinopathy
- Osgood Schlatter’s
- Adductor tendinopathy
- Iliotibial Band friction syndrome
What are some common pathologies of the knee due to traumatic injury?
- Meniscal tears
- Fractures
- ACL rupture
- MCL rupture / tear
- LCL tear
- PCL tear / rupture
What are some common pathologies of the knee post-operative?
- ACL repair
- Meniscal repair
- Total knee replacement (TKR)
- Arthroscopy
- Other ligament repair
What are the common masquerades of the knee?
- Lower extremity or femoral nerve irritation
- Lower extremity nerve roots
- Hip refers to lateral knee
What can pain on the lateral side of the knee mean?
Iliotibial band syndrome or ITB Band Syndrome
What can pain on both sides of the knee cap or inside and outside parts mean?
- Meniscus or ligament tears
- Arthritis
What can pain below the knee cap mean?
- Osgood-Schlatter disease
- Osteochondritis dissecans
- Jumper’s knee
- Patellofemoral instability
What can pain on the inside (medial aspect) mean?
- Medial meniscus tears
- Medial collateral ligament injuries
- Arthritis of the joint
- Bursitis (Pes Anserine Bursa)
What can pain above the knee cap indicate?
Quadriceps tendinopathy
What can pain at the knee cap (that is worse walking down stairs) mean?
- Chrondromalacia / Runner’s knee / Patellofemoral pain
- Patella or patella tracking
- Bursitis, Arthritis
What may the time taken for swelling of the knee tell us about the injury?
Within hours = ACL rupture (or similar)
Over several hours = Meniscal
What does pseudo giving way suggest about a patient’s knee injury?
Knee weakness
- Hyperextension
Pain
- Muscle inhibition
What can a popping sound on injury tell us about the knee injury?
Can indicate ACL rupture
What may true locking of the knee suggest about their injury?
Suggests loose body or meniscal
What may pseudo locking of the knee suggest about their injury?
Knee feels ‘sticky’ and like it may lock (but it doesn’t)
What is true locking of the knee like?
Patient can’t physically move knee (have to move it with their hands for it to move again)
What does true giving way suggest about a patient’s knee injury?
Mechanical
- Meniscal tear
What are red flag pathologies and findings of the knee?
- Septic Osteoarthritis
- Wound infection
- Compartment syndrome
- Bone tumours
- Blocked movement
- Gross instability
- Non-mechanical pain
- Calf redness/heat/pain
