Module 40, General Medical Level

This patient is an 8 year old white male with no significant past medical history, who slammed his knee in a car door 5 weeks prior to presentation. He complains of right knee pain, swelling, and decreased range of motion. The patient denies locking of the knee, but gives a questionable history of "giving way" of the knee. On physical examination, the patient has a small effusion.

Question 40A

An injury 5 weeks ago could not account for the effusion in this child's knee.

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Question 40B

An x-ray is of no use in evaluating the problem in the child's knee.

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Question 40C

Blood tests should be obtained in this work up to rule out infection and arthritis.

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Question 40D

If this is a traumatic lesion it will almost certainly heal with out surgery considering the young age of this child.

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Question 40E

If you are considering trauma as the main etiology, an MRI would give the final and definitive answer as to the etiology of the injury.

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