Sports Med - Common Knee Injuries

plica

thickened and inflamed plica over medial femoral condyle

knee bursitis

direct trauma to anterior patella; falling on knee; causes bursa sacs to form

meniscal injury

compression, hyperextension, hyperflexion, and tearing caused when femur rotates on fixed tibia

first degree sprain

less than 5 mm of distraction/laxity

second degree sprain

5 to 10 mm of distraction/laxity

third degree sprain

over 10 mm of distraction/laxity or a complete rupture

mcl sprain

force to lateral knee (valgus)

lcl sprain

force to medial knee (varus)

acl sprain

foot planted with internal rotation of femur or hyperextension of knee

pcl sprain

foot fixed trauma to posterior thigh or hyperflexion of knee

unhappy triad

torn medial collateral ligament, medial meniscus, and anterior cruciate ligaments

patellofemoral syndrome

weak VMO & tight vastus lateralis muscle, increased q-angle, and internal femoral torsion

patella dislocation/subluxation

patella completely goes out of place, trauma - blow to medial side of patella; no trauma - weak VMO and vastus lateralis, increased q-angle, and tight lateral retinaculum

chondromalacia

wearing down of the cartilage on femur/patella

patella tendinitis (jumper’s knee)

on-going repetitive or eccentric knee extension activities such as running or jumping

osgood - schlatter disease

traction-type injury to tibial tuberosity, due to a growth spurt causing the bone to grow faster than the muscle stretches

quadriceps contusion

direct blow to quads

myositis ossificans

bone calcification in the muscle from injury blood not leaving area

hamstring strain

explosive ballistic movements or overstretching of muscle

iliotibial band syndrome (runner’s knee)

irritation over lateral epicondyle of femur, caused by overuse in sports requiring repeated knee flexion and extension or biomechanical faults

baker’s cyst

soft mass of fluid that can be palpated in the medial popliteal space