Skip to Main Content

Chapter 21: Knee Pain

Della Lee; Daniel Farwell

Description of the Symptom

This chapter describes pathology that may lead to knee pain, including general, anterior, lateral, medial, and posterior knee pain. Local causes of knee pain are defined as pathology occurring in the musculoskeletal, nervous, and vascular structures of the knee joint, between the midthigh and proximal one-third of the lower leg. Remote causes occur outside this area.

Special Concerns

  • Decreased distal pulses

  • Inability to bear weight

  • Skin break and fever

  • Warmth and swelling associated with a fever

image

CHAPTER PREVIEW: Conditions That May Lead to Knee Pain
View Table||Download (.pdf)
CHAPTER PREVIEW: Conditions That May Lead to Knee Pain
T  Trauma
REMOTE LOCAL GENERALIZED LOCAL ANTERIOR LOCAL LATERAL LOCAL MEDIAL LOCAL POSTERIOR
COMMON

Hip pathologies:

• Avascular necrosis 370

• Hip osteoarthrosis/osteoarthritis 370

Acute patellar dislocation 372

Patellofemoral pain syndrome 380

Not applicable

Iliotibial band friction syndrome 377

Muscle strains:

• Biceps femoris muscle strain 378

Nerve entrapments:

• Common peroneal nerve entrapment at the fibular head 379

Ruptures and tears:

• Lateral collateral ligament sprain/rupture 382

• Lateral meniscus tear 382

Ruptures and tears:

• Medial collateral ligament sprain/rupture 382

• Medial meniscus tear 383

Baker's cyst 372

Muscle strains:

• Biceps femoris muscle strain 378

• Gastrocnemius muscle strain 378

Ruptures and tears:

• Posterior cruciate ligament sprain/rupture 383
UNCOMMON

Lumbar radiculopathies:

• L4 radiculopathy 370

• L5 radiculopathy 370

• S1 radiculopathy 371

Fractures:

• Intercondylar eminence fracture of the tibia 375

• Patellar fracture 376

• Supracondylar fracture of the femur 376

Patellar instability 380

Fractures:

• Osteochondral fracture of the patella 376

• Patellar fracture 376

 Not applicable

Muscle strains:

• Semimembranosus muscle strain 379

Muscle strains:

• Semimembranosus muscle strain 379
RARE
Not applicable Not applicable

Ruptures and tears:

• Quadriceps tendon rupture 384

Ruptures and tears:

• Popliteus tendon rupture 383

Nerve entrapments:

• Saphenous nerve entrapment 379

Ruptures and tears:

• Plantaris muscle rupture 383

• Popliteus tendon rupture 383
I  Inflammation
REMOTE LOCAL GENERALIZED LOCAL ANTERIOR LOCAL LATERAL LOCAL MEDIAL LOCAL POSTERIOR
COMMON
Not applicable Not applicable

Aseptic

Bursitis:

• Infrapatellar bursitis 372

• Prepatellar bursitis 374

Tendinitis:

• Patellar tendinitis 385

• Quadriceps tendinitis 385

Septic

Not applicable

 Not applicable

Aseptic

Bursitis:

• Pes anserine bursitis 374

Tendinitis:

• Pes anserine tendinitis 385

Septic

Not applicable

Aseptic

Tendonitis:

• Hamstring tendinitis 385

Septic

Not applicable
UNCOMMON
Not applicable

Aseptic

Fibromyalgia 375

Reiter's syndrome 381

Rheumatoid arthritis of the knee 382

Septic

Osteomyelitis of the distal femur, proximal tibia, or proximal fibula 380

Septic arthritis 384

Aseptic

Infrapatellar fat pad hypertrophy and inflammation (Hoffa's disease) 377

Plica syndrome 380

Septic

Not applicable

Aseptic

Osteomyelitis of the distal femur, proximal tibia, or proximal fibula 380

Septic

Not applicable

Aseptic

Infrapatellar fat pad hypertrophy and inflammation (Hoffa's disease) 377

Plica syndrome 380

Septic

Osteomyelitis of the distal femur, proximal tibia, or proximal fibula 380

Aseptic...

Pop-up div Successfully Displayed

This div only appears when the trigger link is hovered over. Otherwise it is hidden from view.

This site uses cookies to provide, maintain and improve your experience. MH Privacy Center Close