Intermediate Clinical Cases for Postgraduate Orthopaedic Exams

Description

The transcript presents a clinical examination scenario surrounding two patients' knee issues, interwoven with discussions of diagnostics and treatment approaches. The first case involves a 22-year-old female college student with a recent knee injury sustained while going down stairs, suffering from pain and limited movement in her knee. The dialogue captures the examination process, including inquiries into her medical history, incidence of swelling, prior injuries, and symptoms indicative of possible ligament damage such as a pop during an earlier basketball injury. The detailed examination protocol follows, with specific tests like the Lachman's and anterior drawer test proposed, leading to the indication of an ACL injury and the need for MRI imaging for further assessment.



The second patient is a 57-year-old woman who has had long-standing knee pain potentially related to previous surgeries in her early 20s. She reports worsening symptoms, impacting her daily functioning despite analgesics and steroid injections. The interaction details her medical history, including hypertension, and guides the examination of her knee alignment and range of motion, highlighting concerns over the competence of her medial collateral ligament and assessment of associated x-rays revealing joint space narrowing and potential cartilage damage. Treatment discussions include surgical options tailored to her individual condition and further interdisciplinary collaboration for comprehensive management.

DOI: 10.1302/3114-210754

Specialties