An unusual cause of knee pain discovered at a nurse practitioner clinic.
OBJECTIVE
To describe an interesting and instructive case of knee pain from nurse practitioner (NP) practice and discuss the epidemiology, pathophysiology, clinical evaluation, and treatment of osteosarcoma.


METHODS
Findings from the history, physical examination, diagnostic testing, and follow-up of the case of an 18-year-old male who first presented with nontraumatic, diffuse left knee pain of 2.5-month duration.


CONCLUSIONS
At follow-up, after a trial of conservative treatment, a lesion suspicious for osteosarcoma was seen in the proximal tibia. Osteosarcoma is a rare but dangerous cause of chronic extremity pain, especially in children and adolescents.


CONCLUSIONS
NPs must consider malignant bone tumors in the differential diagnosis of traumatic and nontraumatic extremity pain of extended duration, especially in children and adolescents. Thorough, persistent follow-up on recommended tests and referrals is necessary to ensure that important findings are not missed. The care of uninsured patients requires particular attention to cost concerns and access issues.
Heins
Janet Kaye
JK
Gulf Coast Medical Clinic, Robertsdale, Alabama 36617, USA. alan_heins@yahoo.com
Heins
Alan
A
D000293:Adolescent; D000359:Aftercare; D000407:Alabama; D000553:Ambulatory Care / Q000379:methods; D001859:Bone Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis*; D015984:Causality; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D022143:Family Nursing / Q000458:organization & administration; D006801:Humans; D007717:Knee; D008297:Male; D008487:Medical History Taking; D009722:Nurse Practitioners / Q000458:organization & administration; D009730:Nursing Assessment; D012516:Osteosarcoma / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis*; D010146:Pain / Q000209:etiology*; D010808:Physical Examination; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D011320:Primary Health Care / Q000379:methods; D035583:Rare Diseases; D012017:Referral and Consultation; D013977:Tibia