42. Soft tissue injuries of the knee joint

Essay 42- Soft tissue injuries of the knee joint

Any trauma to the soft tissue structures leads to a certain extent of joint instability
The stabilising structures of the knee are divided into:
Static stabilisers- includes meniscus, collateral ligaments, crucial ligaments, meniscus femoral ligament and dorsal capsular structures
Dynamic stabilisers- quadriceps, gastrocnemius, popliteus, iliotibial tract and ischio-crucial musculature

The lesion on the medial meniscus are more frequent than lesions to the lateral because the medial meniscus is fused with the articular capsule and with the medial collateral ligament making it less mobile

Torsion motion of femur towards shank causes knee joint to move from semi flexion to complete extension
Medial meniscus slides back and forth and the condyles may be damaged during this
Types of damage could be:
Transchordal
Detachment of meniscus from capcule
Transverse lesion
Longitudinal to the anterior or posterior horn

Swollen joint
Pain
Restriction of movement
If joint is blocked, it takes a flexed position
Extension provokes pain and spring resistance
Symptom of Steinmann- knee is extended, there is pain upon palpation in the anterior area of the joint space and when patient flexes, the pain move along articular space
Symptom of Payer- patient cant sit with legs crossed or finds it very painful
Symptom of Chakin- hypotrophy of quadriceps
Symptom of Apley- patient lies on stomach. Knee is flexed to 90 degrees. Foot is pulled and rotated then pressed and rotated towards knee!
This provokes pain!