injuries poisoning
Knee Sprains and Meniscal Injuries
Key Points
Stress testing (usually done days after the injury) is necessary for differentiation of partial from complete ligamentous tears and is more sensitive than MRI. Consider injury to the anterior cruciate ligament and other intra-articular structures if patients have an effusion after an injury. Consider knee dislocation and popliteal artery injury if patients have a large hemarthrosis, gross instability, or both. If patients have knee pain and effusion, test active knee extension to check for disruption of the extensor mechanism (eg, tears of the quadriceps or patellar tendon, fracture of the patella or tibial tubercle). Do MRI if symptoms do not resolve after a few weeks of conservative management or possibly when severe injury or significant intra-articular injury is suspected or cannot be otherwise excluded. 