Knee examination Flashcards
What is done during inspection of the knee in the knee examination?
Look for any erythema, scars, deformities, swelling, muscle wasting (esp at quadriceps)
What is done to assess gait and loading in the knee examination?
Observe gait, checking for normal/symmetrical loading and joint angle change
Can do Thessaly meniscus test (comparing L and R)
What is done during palpation in the knee examination?
Palpate the knees for warmth
Check for any joint effusion/swelling via the patellar tap test and the bulge test
Palpates surrounding muscles of the knee, including quadriceps (vastus medialis, vastus lateralis, rectus femoris) and the hamstrings (semitendinosus, semimembranosus, biceps femoris)
Palpates surrounding structures, including patella bone, infra and suprapatellar bursa, patellar tendon, medial and lateral joint line, popliteal fossa
What range of movement tests are done in the knee exam?
Flexion and extension of the knee (active movement followed by passive)
What special tests should be performed in the knee exam?
Anterior drawer test and posterior drawer test for the ACL and PCL
Test integrity of MCL and LCL
Can retest for meniscus but already would have done with Thessaly, can mention Apleys and McMurray test
