Knee Questions

Question 1

Knee OA

Answer 1

Very Common

May affect: medial compartment, lateral compartment, patellofemoral compartment, all 3

Treatment:
Conservative: analgesia, physiotherapy, walking aids
Operative: total knee replacement

Question 2

Meniscal Injuries

Answer 2

Relatively common

Young pt - likely purely traumatic tear of medial meniscus

Older pt - increased chance of degenerative tear of lateral meniscus

Loose meniscal fragment may enter joint space, causing locking (inability to extend knee)

Question 3

Common peroneal nerve

Answer 3

Anatomy: descends obliquely along lateral side of popliteal fossa, winds around fibular neck, superficial branch innervates muscles of lateral leg compartment (foot eversion), deep branch innervates muscles of the anterior leg compartment (foot dorsiflexion), sensory supply to lateral leg and dorsum of foot

Question 4

Common peroneal nerve injury

Answer 4

Trauma to the lateral leg at the level of fibular head

Classically being hit by a car bumper

Most significant consequence is loss of foot dorsiflexion, leading to foot drop

Results in high-stepping gait