• Discuss the indications for imaging in traumatic knee injury (Ottawa Knee Rules)
• Describe the common mechanisms of injury of the menisci and ligaments of the knee
Two main sub-groups
Non-contact (80%)
Contact
-Mechanisms = valgus force to knee
Discuss the risk factors for ACL injury
There are 4 subheadings
Biomechanical:
Knee valgus
Anterior tibial shear
Tibial IR or ER
Lateral trunk motion
Dynamic foot pronation
GRF
Neuromuscular:
Relative hamstring recruitment
Hip abduction strength
Limb and trunk proprioception
Gender:
Female 2X8 more at risk
Anatomical: High BMI Femoral notch width Generalised or specific joint laxity Prior injury
• Discuss methods of prevention of non-contact ACL injuries
-Hip neuromuscular control
(isometric hip abduction & ER independantly predict future ACL injury)
Outcomes post ACL Injury
Likely profile of an individual who will return to preinjury level of performance
Low pain
low TSK 11 score
Higher quadriceps peak torque
Less pre/post surgical change in Tegner score(self reported physical activity)
ACL injury has 3x greater risk of OA after AC treated with recon than contralateral healthy knee
Mechanisms of ACL injury
and the structures affected in order of damage
3-4 kinds
Hyperextension
1 posterior capule torn/stretched
2.ACL
3.PCL
O’donoghues /unhappy triad/Valgus knee force with knee in slight flexion
VARUS FORCE TO THE KNEE- uncommon contact MOI
ACL diagnosis
Patient heard crack/pop.snap Felt knee go in and out Initial intense pain Rapid hot effusion within 2 hours Hemoarthrosis = 80% chance of ACL tear
PE -Exclude PCL & #'s -lachman’s, anterior draw, pivot shift -X-ray for associated bony injury (tibial spine avulsion, postero-lateral tibial plateau injury)
PCL diagnosis
- Stability tests (posterior draw, reverse Lachman’s)
MCL diagnosis
Tender on palpation
Lack of knee extension
Nil or minimal swelling
Positive to valgus testing
(pain, gapping, altereded end feel)
Pain & stiffness with extension & twisting
LCL diagnosis
Nil-minimal swelling Lateral joint line tender on palpation loss of terminal extension Positive varus stress test (pain, gapping, altered end feel)
PCL mechanisms of injury
Falling on tibia/blow to tibia forcing it backwards
Football tackle
Dashboard injury
Forced knee hyperextension injury with foot plantarflexed
Hyperextension ( as complication of ACL rupture)
Role of superficial MCL
Superficial MCL
-Primary restraint to VALGUS loads in all degrees of knee flexion
Mechanism of injury of superficial MCL
Valgus force with knee slighly flexed(odonoghues triad)
(MCL only)
Valgus force with knee extended
(Posterio medial capsule also torn)
if more severe ACL may also be affected
Role of LCL
& mechanism of injury
Very uncommon
Varus stress to the knee( direct blow to anteromedial tibia)
Kinematics of the menisci of the knee
Mechanism of Injury of menisci
1 low energy mechanism
twist on flexed knee ( tib ER + knee valgus)
in degenerative middle aged pop
2 High energy mechanism
Twisting involved in sport
Male>female , medial >lateral
3 associated with other injury
Lateral meniscus with ACL injury>
result of compression/sheering forces as lateral compartment dislocates posteriorly
Medial meniscus with MCL injury>
via pull of MCL on attachment to medial meniscus
Menisci function
Load transmission & shock absorbtion
Joint congruity enhanced
Stability enhanced
Joint lubrication
Articular cartilage nutrition
Proprioception
Diagnosis of meniscal tear
S/E patient age catching or locking can usually weight bear through pain Effusion around joint line( mild & slow)
P/E
Pain with loaded deep flexion
loss of end range extension with springy end feel hamstring spasm and acute locking joint line tenderness Pain with varus/valgus stress tests Pain & clicking w - mcmurrarys test flex ext w varus/valgus -thelasy test -eges test
MRI non invasive gold standard
Define sensitivity and specificity and their role in diagnosis
SnOUT:
sensitivity high
a neg test willl rule the disorder out
(low risk of false negative)
SpIN
Specificity high
a pos test will rule the disorder in
(low risk of false positive)