S4L2 - Disorders Of The Knee Flashcards
What are the standard x-ray series for the knee?
AP view, lateral view, patella axial (skyline) view
Who are prone to femoral shaft fractures and how do they occur?
Children and young adults as result of high velocity trauma.
Low velocity injury in elderly with osteoporotic bones.
Why is the proximal segment in a femoral shaft fracture often abducted and flexed?
Because the musculature acts as a deforming force. Abducted by gluteus medius and minimus and flexed by iliopsoas pulling on the lesser trochanter.
Why is the distal segment of the femur after a fracture adducted into varus deformity and extended?
The musculature acts as a deforming force. Adducted by the adductor muscles (gracilis, adductor Magnus). Extended due to the pull of gastrocneumius on the posterior femur.
What are signs of a femoral shaft fracture?
Tense swollen thigh, possible drowsiness from hypovolaemic shock.
What is a common complication of a femoral shaft fracture?
Hypovolaemic shock as blood loss in closed femoral shaft fractures is 1L-1.5L. Rarely have neuromuscular complications.
How are femoral shaft fractures treated?
Surgical fixation.
What complications can occur in a distal fracture of the femur?
Popliteal artery may become involved if there is significant displacement of the fracture.
How is a fracture of the distal femur treated?
Assessment of the nerurovasculature status of the limb before and after reduction of the fracture.
How do tibial plateau fractures usually occur?
High energy injuries. Axial loading with varus or valgus angulation of the knee.
What are tibial plateau fractures?
Fractures affecting the articulating surface of the tibia within the knee joint. Can be unicondylar or bicondylar.
What are complications of tibial plateau fractures?
Articular cartilage is always damaged. Most patients develop a degree of post-traumatic osteoarthritis in the affected joint. Also associated with meniscus tears and anterior cruciate ligament injuries.
How do patellar fractures occur?
Direct impact injury
Eccentric con ration of the quadriceps
20-50yrs
What can often be found on presentation of a patellar fracture?
Palpable defect in the patella
Haemarthrosis
Patient unable to perform a straight leg raise (extensor mechanism disrupted as fracture is distal to the insertion of the quadriceps tendon)
How are displaced patellar fractures treated?
Reduction
Surgical fixation
How are undisplaced patellar fractures treated?
Protected whilst healing by splints and crutches
Wha can often be mistaken for a patellar fracture?
Bipartite patella (failure of union of a secondary ossification centre within the main body of the patella)
What is patellar subluxation?
Partial displacement of the patella
What is the most common direction for the patella to dislocate?
Laterally
How is the patella usually dislocated?
Trauma, often a twisting injury with slight flexion. Usually with internal rotation of the femur on a planted foot
Direct blow to the knee.
What people commonly suffer from patella dislocation?
Athletic teenagers
What are predisposing factors to a patella dislocation?
Generalised ligamentous laxity
Weakness of the quadriceps muscles (especially the vastus medialis obliquus)
Shallow trochlear groove with a flat lateral lip
Long patellar ligament
Previous dislocations
How are patellar dislocations treated?
By extending the knee and then manually reducing the patella. Immobilise when healing. Physiotherapy to strengthen the vastus medialis obliquus after healing.
How do menisci life injuries typically occur?
Sudden twisting motion of a weight-bearing knee in a high degree of flexion.
What are the signs and symptoms of a meniscus injury?
Intermittent pain localised to the joint line. Knee may click, catch or lock, unable to extend full due to intra-Articular foreign body os a sensation of giving way. Swelling may or may not occur. If haemarthrosis present it indicates a tear in the peripheral vascular aspect of the meniscus or an associated ACL injury.
Joint line tenderness, restricted motion due to pain or swelling.
What can a chronic effusion of the knee joint indicate?
Synovitis
Meniscus injury
What can be the cause of a mechanical block or locking of the knee joint?
A displaced meniscal tear resulting in fragments becoming trapped between articular surfaces.
How are acute traumatic meniscal tears usually treated?
Conservative management
Meniscectomy
Meniscal repair
How does collateral ligament injury occur?
Acute varus or valgus angulation of the knee
What do the collateral ligaments usually do?
Brace the knee against unusually varus or valgus deformation
Prevent excessive posterior deformation of the tibia on the femur (alongside the PCL)
What is a varus deformation of the knee?
There is a medial angulation of the leg/distal segment.
Bow-legged.
What is valgus deformation of the knee?
Lateral angulation of the leg/distal fragment. Knock knees.
When is there strain on the lateral collateral ligament?
When there is varus deformation at the knee.
When is there strain of the medial collateral ligament?
In acute valgus strain at the knee.
Why does an injury to the lateral collateral ligament have a higher chance of causing knee instability than a MCL injury?
The lateral tibial plateau forms a shallower and more unstable socket for the medial condyle of the femur. Hence the lateral collateral ligament plays a larger role in maintaining the stability of the knee.
What are the presenting symptoms of a collateral ligament injury?
Pain and swelling of the knee. Stiffness. Joint felling unstable, giving way and not supporting body weight.
What are the unhappy triad?
Injury to the:
anterior cruciate ligament
Medial meniscus
Medial collateral ligament