1. Least Effective Exercises Slideshow
2. Dehydration Slideshow
3. First Aid Care and Pain Relief for Minor Injuries

Author:

Benjamin Wedro, MD, FACEP, FAAEM

Benjamin Wedro, MD, FACEP, FAAEM

Dr. Ben Wedro practices emergency medicine at Gundersen Clinic, a regional trauma center in La Crosse, Wisconsin. His background includes undergraduate and medical studies at the University of Alberta, a Family Practice internship at Queen's University in Kingston, Ontario and residency training in Emergency Medicine at the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center.

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Editor:

William C. Shiel Jr., MD, FACP, FACR

William C. Shiel Jr., MD, FACP, FACR

Dr. Shiel received a Bachelor of Science degree with honors from the University of Notre Dame. There he was involved in research in radiation biology and received the Huisking Scholarship. After graduating from St. Louis University School of Medicine, he completed his Internal Medicine residency and Rheumatology fellowship at the University of California, Irvine. He is board-certified in Internal Medicine and Rheumatology.

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The diagnosis of a knee injury begins with the history of how the injury occurred. Initially, the knee can be painful, swollen, and difficult to examine. Plain X-rays can detect associated broken bones.

If the patient presents after the swelling has decreased, the stability of the knee can be assessed. There may be tenderness along the knee joint and weakness noted of the quadriceps muscle. The physical exam also may be helpful in looking for other structures within the knee that may also be damaged. These include stressing the collateral ligaments and assessing the menisci or cartilage.

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is often done to evaluate the anatomy of the knee, and it can detect injuries to the ligaments, meniscus, and bone. While it is used to visualize the anatomy, it is not a replacement for the history and physical exam. Not all patients with knee injuries require an MRI.

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