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Effusion can occur with intra-articular pathology, such as osteoarthritis, and meniscus and cruciate ligament tears
Acute knee swelling (due to hemarthrosis) within 2 hours may indicate ligament injuries or patellar dislocation or fracture
Table 41–5 shows the differential diagnosis of knee pain
Table 41–6 outlines possible diagnoses based on the location of pain
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Evaluation should begin with general questions about duration and rapidity of symptom onset and the mechanism of injury or aggravating symptoms
Overuse or degenerative problems can occur with stress or compression from sports, hobbies, or occupation
A history of trauma as well as history of orthopedic problems requiring surgery should also be elicited
Symptoms of infection (fever, recent bacterial infections, risk factors for sexually transmitted infections [such as Neisseria gonorrhea] or other bacterial infections [such as Staphylococcus aureus]) should always be evaluated
Common symptomatic complaints
Presence of grinding, clicking, or popping with bending may be indicative of osteoarthritis or the patellofemoral syndrome
"Locking" or "catching" when walking suggests an internal derangement such as meniscal injury or a loose body in the knee
Intra-articular swelling of the knee or an effusion indicates an internal derangement or a synovial pathology. Large swelling may cause a popliteal (Baker) cyst. Acute swelling within minutes to hours suggests a hemarthrosis, most likely due to an anterior cruciate ligament injury, fracture or patellar dislocation, especially if trauma is involved
Lateral "snapping" with flexion ...