Knee Injuries

Jason Guan

Meniscus Tears
cause: any activity that causes direct contact or pressure from a forced
twist or rotation
- sudden pivot or turn, deep squatting, or heavy lifting
- pop or snap was heard when knee was twisted (torsion force)
structures involved: Patella, Femur, Tibia, meniscus

Tendinitis
cause: frequent jumping in sports such as basketball and volleyball
structures involved: Patella tendon, kneecap, femur, tibia

Chondromalacia
cause: improper tracking of the kneecap as it slides over the bone of
the femur
- muscle weakness
- can lead to patella tracking issues

structures involved: patella, femur

Osgood Schlatter
cause: overuse
- common to adolescents due to rapid growth spurts
structures involved: patellar tendon, tibia
- symptoms will eventually disappear with time and rest

Muscle Strains
cause: excessive flexion or extension of muscle
structures involved: quadriceps and hamstring

Bursitis
causes: frequent pressure from kneeling, direct blow to the knee, or
bacterial infection of the bursa
structures involved: bursae

IT Band Syndrome
cause: activity that causes the leg to turn inward repeatedly
- constant rubbing of this band over the lateral femoral condyle with
knee flexion swelling and thickening will occur where this band
crosses over the condyle
- very common in cross-country runners
structures involved: IT band, femur

Popliteal Cyst
- a pocket of fluid forms a lump in the back of the knee
cause: bursa sac and synovial sac in back of knee may leak fluid and
form a cyst, arthritis, and a knee injury that leaks fluid (fluid form a torn
tendon, meniscus, or ligament)

Anterior Cruciate Assessment Test

Lachmans Test
-

positive test the tibia will move forward farther than the uninjured tibia

pushing femur down and fibula up

Anterior Drawer Test

-

if positive, the tibia will move forward farther than the uninjured tibia

Posterior Test
Posterior Drawer Test
-

if positive, the tibia will shift backwards or farther posteriorly than the uninjured tibia

Medial Collateral Assessment Test

Valgus Stress Test
- if positive, the lower leg will move more laterally than the uninjured
lower leg

Lateral Collateral Stress Test

Varus Stress Test
- lower leg will move farther medially than the injured lower leg

Meniscus - Apleys Compression Test

- assesses the integrity of the meniscus
- if pain present when you push down on foot and turn foot inward
could indicate a possible Lateral meniscus tear
- if pain present when you push down on foot and turn foot inward
could indicate a possible Medial meniscus tear

Osteochondritis Dissecans (OCD)

- joint mice because of small pieces of bone that have been
dislodged or chipped from the joint are floating within the joint
capsule
- may be dislodged and still attached to the bone causing a painful
movement
- direct result of some type of trauma

Patellar Dislocation
- caused by direct blow or sudden twist of the knee

Patellar Fractures
- caused by a hard blow to the front of the knee
- pain, deformity, and swelling will be present
- place in knee immobilizer