UMEM Educational Pearls

Title: Knee Injuries

Category: Orthopedics

Keywords: knee, injury, dislocation (PubMed Search)

Posted: 6/21/2014 by Michael Bond, MD (Updated: 11/23/2024)
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Some quick facts about Knee Injuries:

The most common cause of acute traumatic hemarthrosis of the knee is an anterior cruciate ligament tear.
- Most patients with an ACL injury will give a history of immediate pain, disability, knee swelling and audible pop.
The most common ligament injuried in the knee is the medial collateral ligament.
Patella dislocations
- Usually lateral dislocations and often spontaneous reduce.
- Hyperextend the knee to make the reduction easier.
Dislocation of the knee:
- Anterior is the most common and usually secondary to hyperextension
- Popliteal artery injury is commonly seen and must be looked for. Easy bedside test is Ankle Brachial Index.
- Normal pulses do NOT exclude a vascular injury.
- Patients should be monitored for vascular complications and compartment syndrome.
- Vascular injuries due to knee dislocation are associated with a high rate of amputation, which markedly increases if not repaired within 6-8 hours.