Orthopedics Knee Flashcards
Normal Anatomy Knee
Physical Exam
- Both knees appear _______.
- Sw______ /Effusions?
- ________ to palpation?
- ROM (~0 - ____); patellar motion / instability
- Distal ______vascular exam (no different than hip)
- _______: Anterior/Posterior/Va____/Va____ - +definition?
- Both knees appear symmetric.
- Swelling / Effusions?
- Tenderness to palpation?
- ROM (~0 - 120); patellar motion / instability
- Distal neurovascular exam (no different than hip)
- Stability: Anterior/Posterior/Varus/Valgus
Common Conditions
(3)
Conditions 1 slide each
(7)
- Patellofemoral syndrome / chondromalacia patella / patellar instability
- Meniscal tears
- Degenerative joint disease / Arthritis (huge category of diagnoses!)
- Inflammatory v. noninflammatory…(outside the scope of this lecture)
- Ligament injuries
- Septic arthritis (can be any joint…)
- Patellar tendon rupture
- Quadriceps tendon rupture
- Patellar fracture
- Pes anserine bursitis
- Osgood-Schlatter
Patellofemoral syndrome / chondromalacia patella / patellar instability
=
_______ common, especially in ad______ and _____adults (____ > ____ gender)
- Can be idiopathic (i.e. no _______) with or without changes in the articular cartilage (1)
- Can be a result of patellar ___stability
- Diagnosis → ______ knee pain, ______ with kneeling, squatting, prolonged sitting, stairs, patellar compression
-
Treatment
- In general, responds very well to directed _______ / ______ceps strengthening
- Surgery reserved for significant anatomic mal______ or severe in______ only
- Some consider these conditions a precursor of patellofemoral ________
Anterior Knee pain
Extremely common, especially in adolescents and young adults (women > men)
- Can be idiopathic (i.e. no instability) with or without changes in the articular cartilage (chondromalacia)
- Can be a result of patellar instability
- Diagnosis → anterior knee pain, worse with kneeling, squatting, prolonged sitting, stairs, patellar compression
-
Treatment
- In general, responds very well to directed exercises / quadriceps strengthening
- Surgery reserved for significant anatomic malalignment or severe instability only
- Some consider these conditions a precursor of patellofemoral arthritis
Patellofemoral Syndrome History and Symptoms
- Diffuse _____ in the ______ of the knee (major symptom)
- ______ onset and typically v_____ in nature
- Aggravated by specific daily activities including
- C_____ or descending st____
- Prolonged sitting with knee ____ (known as “______ sign”)
- S______ or kneeling
- Cr_______ / Mechanical symptoms (anteriorly)
- Diffuse pain in the anterior of the knee (major symptom)
- Gradual onset and typically vague in nature
- Aggravated by specific daily activities including
- Climbing or descending stairs
- Prolonged sitting with knee bent (known as “theatre sign”)
- squatting or kneeling
- Crepitus / Mechanical symptoms (anteriorly)
Patellofemoral Syndrome PE
- Pain with com______ of patella with knee range of motion or resisted knee _______
- Signs of patellar _____
- Lateral ______ of patella in extension, _______ in flexion (compare motion to contralateral side)
- Positive patellar __________ test (discomfort with ______ force)
- Pain with compression of patella with knee range of motion or resisted knee extension
- Signs of patellar instability
- Lateral subluxation of patella in extension, reduces in flexion (compare motion to contralateral side)
- Positive patellar apprehension test (discomfort with lateral force)
Patellofemoral Syndrome Imaging
- XR:
- Recommended views: AP, ____ral, S_____
- Look for:
- Lateral patellar t____
- _______ trochlear groove
- Signs of PFJ DJD =
- Keep in mind:
- Even with severe lateral subluxation, the patella reduces with flexion (sunrise view)
- AP view can be deceiving (positioning / rotation of the x-ray)
- CT / MRI: ______ planning
- XR:
- Recommended views: AP, Lateral, Sunrise
- Look for:
- Lateral patellar tilt
- Shallow trochlear groove
- Signs of PFJ DJD = patellofemoral joint degenerative joint disease
- Keep in mind:
- Even with severe lateral subluxation, the patella reduces with flexion (sunrise view)
- AP view can be deceiving (positioning / rotation of the x-ray)
- CT / MRI: surgical planning
Patellofemoral Conditions Non-Op Treatment
- Mainstay of treatment and should be done for a minimum of one year: R___/ P_/N_____
- NSAIDS are more effective than ______
- ______ modification
- Rehabilitation with emphasis on
- V _ _ strengthening
- _______ strengthening: controversial → externally rotated leg
- Mainstay of treatment and should be done for a minimum of one year: Rest/ PT/NSAIDs
- NSAIDS are more effective than steroids
- Activity modification
- Rehabilitation with emphasis on
- Vastus medialis obliquus strengthening
- Quadriceps strengthening: controversial → externally rotated leg
Patellofemoral Conditions Operative Treatment
- Operative
- Very ____ results seen with debridements and “lateral releases”
- In cases of significant deformity, soft tissue and bony re______ can be done
- When to refer?
- Operative
- Very poor results seen with debridements and “lateral releases”
- In cases of significant deformity, soft tissue and bony realignments can be done
- Refer
- Symptoms not responsive to NSAIDs, PT, activity modification
Meniscal Tears
- Common _____-related injuries in young athletes and can also present as a ______ condition in older patients
- Diagnosis can be suspected clinically with joint ____ tenderness and a positive (1) test, and can be confirmed with (1) imaging.
-
Treatment can be nonoperative versus operative ((1) versus (1)) depending on the morphology of the meniscus tear, root involvement, patient symptoms, and patient activity demands.
- Most are treated ______ surgery
NOTE: Degenerative tears are a ______ part of the ______ process, are not separate injuries, and should not be treated in isolation (i.e. almost never MRI; never surgery)
- Common sports-related injuries in young athletes and can also present as a degenerative condition in older patients
- Diagnosis can be suspected clinically with joint line tenderness and a positive McMurray’s test, and can be confirmed with MRI imaging.
-
Treatment can be nonoperative versus operative (partial meniscectomy versus repair) depending on the morphology of the meniscus tear, root involvement, patient symptoms, and patient activity demands.
- Most are treated without surgery
NOTE: Degenerative tears are a normal part of the arthritis process, are not separate injuries, and should not be treated in isolation (i.e. almost never MRI; never surgery)
Meniscal Tears History and Symptoms
- Pain localized to m_____ or l____ joint _____
- Mechanical symptoms (l_____ and cl______), especially with f_____ / squatting
- Intermittent sw_______
- Pain localized to medial or lateral joint line
- Mechanical symptoms (locking and clicking), especially with flexion / squatting
- Intermittent swelling
Meniscal Tears Physical Exam
- Joint _____ tenderness (most sensitive physical examination finding)
- Eff_____
Provocative tests
- (1) Prone-flexion compression
- (1) standing at 20 degrees of knee flexion on the affected limb, the patient twists with knee external and internal rotation with positive test being discomfort or clicking
-
(1) flex the knee and place a hand on medial side of knee, externally rotate the leg and bring the knee into extension.
- a palpable pop / click + pain is a positive test and can correlate with a medial meniscus tear.
- Joint line tenderness (most sensitive physical examination finding)
- Effusion
Provocative tests
- Apley Compression: Prone-flexion compression
- Thessaly Test standing at 20 degrees of knee flexion on the affected limb, the patient twists with knee external and internal rotation with positive test being discomfort or clicking
-
McMurray’s Test flex the knee and place a hand on medial side of knee, externally rotate the leg and bring the knee into extension.
- a palpable pop / click + pain is a positive test and can correlate with a medial meniscus tear.
Meniscal Tears Imaging
- XR:
- Should be _____ in young patients with an acute meniscal injury
- Meniscal ________ may be seen in crystalline arthropathy
- Should be _____ in young patients with an acute meniscal injury
- (1)
- Most ______ diagnostic test but also high false positive rate
- “Over-calls” it…
- Look for _____ signal on the T2s
- Joint ______ making its way into the substance of the meniscus
- Most ______ diagnostic test but also high false positive rate
- XR:
- Should be _____ in young patients with an acute meniscal injury
- Meniscal calcifications may be seen in crystalline arthropathy
- Should be _____ in young patients with an acute meniscal injury
- MRI:
- Most sensitive diagnostic test but also high false positive rate
- “Over-calls” it…
- Look for bright signal on the T2s
- Joint fluid making its way into the substance of the meniscus
- Most sensitive diagnostic test but also high false positive rate
Meniscal Tears Non-Op Treatment
- R___, Rx (1), re________, in_______
- Indications
- Indicated as ______ line treatment for almost all tears
- Indications
- Outcomes
- Improvement in knee ______ following _ _
- “Non_____” when compared to arthroscopic partial meniscectomy
- Rest, NSAIDS, rehabilitation, injection
- Indications
- Indicated as first line treatment for almost all tears
- Indications
- Outcomes
- Improvement in knee function following physical therapy
- “Noninferior” when compared to arthroscopic partial meniscectomy
Meniscal Tears Operative Treatment
Indicatated when?
(2) options
Persistent painful mechanical symptoms that correspond with the anatomic location of the tear
Debridement vs. Repair