Musculoskeletal

Question 1

Inspection

Answer 1

Wasting
Scars
Knee deformities (varus/valgus)

Question 2

What does warmth at the knee joint indicate?

Answer 2

Inflammatory conditions
- osteoarthritis
- septic arthritis

Question 3

Where should the knee joint be palpated? What clinical findings could be made?

Answer 3

Around patella - pain = arthritis
Medial and lateral joint lines - pain = meniscal damage
Tibial tubercosity/head of fibula - pain = fracture
Popliteal fossa - swelling = Baker’s cyst

Question 4

What is an effusion? What causes them?

Answer 4

Excess synovial fluid

Arthritis - septic/OA
ACL rupture
Meniscal damage

Question 5

What is the Trendelenburg test?

Answer 5

Ask patient to lift one foot off the floo to test abductors gluteus medius and minimus

Weakness will cause tilt to normal side when normal side foot is raised

Question 6

Outline the tests for ACL tears

Answer 6

Lachman test - knee at 30 degrees, pull tibia towards you

Anterior draw test - knee at 90 degrees, cup knee and pull tibia towards you