title: Evaluation and management of traumatic knee injuries in the emergency department.
abstract: Posttraumatic knee pain is a common presentation in the emergency department (ED). The use of clinical decision rules can rule out reliably fractures of the knee and reduce the unnecessary cost and radiation exposure associated with plain radiographs. If ligamentous or meniscal injury to the knee is suspected, the ED physician should arrange for expedited follow- up with the patient's primary care physician or an orthopedic specialist for consideration of an MRI and further management. Patients presenting after high-energy mechanisms are at risk for occult fracture and vascular injuries. ED providers must consider these injuries in the proper clinical setting.
authors.affiliation: Department of Emergency Medicine, Madigan Army Medical Center, 9040 Fitzsimmons Drive, Tacoma, WA 98431, USA. Electronic address: Tristan.l.knutson.mil@mail.mil.
authors.forename: Tristan
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Knutson
authors.affiliation: Department of Emergency Medicine, Madigan Army Medical Center, 9040 Fitzsimmons Drive, Tacoma, WA 98431, USA.
authors.forename: Jason
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bothwell
authors.affiliation: Department of Emergency Medicine, Madigan Army Medical Center, 9040 Fitzsimmons Drive, Tacoma, WA 98431, USA.
authors.forename: Ricky
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Durbin
mesh_terms: D055109:Ankle Brachial Index; D000070598:Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injuries; D017885:Collateral Ligaments / Q000293:injuries; D003661:Decision Support Techniques; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital; D050723:Fractures, Bone / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D007718:Knee Injuries / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D013708:Tendon Injuries / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy; D014949:Wounds, Nonpenetrating / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy
keywords: Dislocation; Fracture; Knee; Neurovascular damage