<< Back |
||||||
Injuries/disorders of the Knee
Frederic C. Balduini, MD, is director of the Sports Medicine Fellowship Program at Philadelphia's Graduate Hospital. Here, he discusses the importance of fully understanding the anatomy of the knee, the physical findings, osteonecrosis of the knee, and chronic conditions such as tendonitis, arthritis, and bursitis. Dr. Balduini emphasizes the importance of knowing the anatomy of the knee: femur, tibia, fibula and the patella are the four bones comprising the knee joint. In addition, there are menisci that serve as shock absorbers, and ligaments in the knee that contribute to the joint's stability. The four muscle structures surrounding the knee are the hamstring muscles – semimembranosus, semitendinosus, and the biceps femoris. The author notes the importance of a thorough history in determining the diagnosis, while also suggesting that MRIs are overutilized as a diagnostic tool, although they are helpful in confirming a diagnosis of osteonecrosis. Using effective illustrations, he devotes much of his presentation to physical findings, which include comparison with the unaffected knee, the Lachman's test for anterior cruciate ligament integrity, and the Childress test. Among the acute conditions of the knee are meniscular and patellar ligament injuries, and osteochondritis dessicans. Chronic conditions include patellar chondromalacia, and tendonitis and its manifestations and treatment. The lecture concludes with a discussion of bursitis and arthritis ... and with the author issuing the caveat that with the current epidemic status of obesity in the United States, "the public would be well-served to concentrate on proper nutrition and exercise regimens to maintain joint health." |
||||||
