Knee exam

Observation (supine)

 * Ecchymosis (bruise)? Surgical scars?
 * Erythema or overlying rash/celulitis
 * Knee resting position
 * Knee effusion with obscured landmarks
 * Quadriceps muscle atrophy

Observation (standing)

 * Balanced weight on each leg
 * Genu varum or genu valgum deformity
 * Gait analysis
 * Hip, knee and ankle alignment
 * Presence of Baker cysts (inspect popliteal fossa with patient standing)

Palpation

 * Temperature
 * Joint line tenderness
 * Bony structures
 * Bursae and tendons

Range of motion

 * Normal flexion = 130 degrees
 * look for pain and crepitus
 * do active vs passive ROM
 * Normal extension = 10 degrees above horizontal

Knee effusion tests

 * patellar ballotment
 * knee milking
 * swipe test/bulge sign

Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) Stability Tests

 * Lachman's Test (most sensitive)
 * Anterior drawer sign

Posterior Cruciate Ligament (PCL) Tests

 * Posterior drawer test
 * PCL sag test

Collateral ligament evalutation

 * Knee valgus stress test (Medial collateral ligament)
 * Knee varus stress test (Lateral colalteral ligament)

Meniscus Evaluation

 * McMurrays Test (external rotation and extension from full knee flexion for medial meniscal tear, internal rotation and extension for lateral mensicusus)
 * Apley's compression test (grind home test)