Summary
Definition
History and exam
Key diagnostic factors
- presence of risk factors
- knee swelling
- sensation of knee instability or buckling/catching
- knee pain
- tenderness at joint line and joint line crepitation
- positive McMurray's test
- positive Apley's test
- positive hyperextension test
Other diagnostic factors
- popliteal (Baker's) cyst in chronic cases
- limited range of motion
Risk factors
- acute trauma (twisting injury)
- knee joint arthritis
- knee instability
- history of anterior cruciate ligament injury
- malalignment of the knee joint
- rough or uneven playing surface
- poor ground/weather conditions
- construction work and manual labour jobs
- discoid meniscus
Diagnostic investigations
1st investigations to order
- MRI scan
- plain film radiographs: AP x-ray, lateral knee x-ray, 45° PA flexion, and skyline views
Investigations to consider
- arthroscopy
Treatment algorithm
all patients
Contributors
Authors
Hideki Takeda, MD
Orthopedic Surgeon
Department of Sports Orthopedics
NTT Medical Center Tokyo
Tokyo
Japan
Disclosures
HT declares that he has no competing interests.
Acknowledgements
Dr Hideki Takeda would like to gratefully acknowledge Dr Lars Engebretsen and Dr Kevin R. Stone, previous contributors to this topic. LE declares that he has no competing interests. KRS is an author of several references cited in this topic.
Peer reviewers
Daniel Solomon, MD
Co-Director of Orthopedic Sports and Shoulder Service
Department of Orthopedic Surgery
Naval Medical Center San Diego
San Diego
CA
Disclosures
DS declares that he has no competing interests.
Jung-Ro Yoon, MD
Orthopedic Surgeon
Department of Orthopedic Surgery
Seoul Veterans Hospital
Seoul
South Korea
Disclosures
JRY declares that she has no competing interests.
Differentials
- Anterior cruciate ligament tear
- Medial collateral ligament sprain
- Posterior cruciate ligament sprain
More DifferentialsGuidelines
- Arthroscopic meniscal surgery: a national society treatment guideline and consensus statement
- National consensus on the definition, investigation, and classification of meniscal lesions of the knee
More GuidelinesPatient leaflets
Osteoarthritis
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