Skip to main content Accessibility help
×
Hostname: page-component-cd9895bd7-jn8rn Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-24T12:20:58.488Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Chapter 4 - Knee and leg emergencies

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  05 November 2013

Michael C. Bond
Affiliation:
Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore
Andrew D. Perron
Affiliation:
Department of Emergency Medicine, Maine Medical Center, Portland
Michael K. Abraham
Affiliation:
Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore
Get access

Summary

This chapter presents the key facts, clinical presentations, physical examinations, diagnostic testings, treatments, and prognosis of the knee and leg injuries such as knee dislocations, anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries, posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) injuries, tibia and fibula fractures or dislocations, and lateral collateral ligament (LCL) injuries. Due to the limitations of the ED assessment, the suspected discharge diagnosis is often unconfirmed, and close follow-up is required to confirm the diagnosis, monitor symptoms and guide further management. Physical exam of the acutely injured knee in the ED is often compromised by acute pain and swelling. When an occult, non-displaced fracture is suspected, then management should include immobilization in ~30° of flexion, crutches, non-weight-bearing status, and follow-up with orthopedic surgery within a few days. Though not absolutely indicated, local practice patterns may elect to confirm the presence or absence of a fracture in the ED with computer tomography (CT).
Type
Chapter
Information
Orthopedic Emergencies
Expert Management for the Emergency Physician
, pp. 105 - 141
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 2013

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

Save book to Kindle

To save this book to your Kindle, first ensure [email protected] is added to your Approved Personal Document E-mail List under your Personal Document Settings on the Manage Your Content and Devices page of your Amazon account. Then enter the ‘name’ part of your Kindle email address below. Find out more about saving to your Kindle.

Note you can select to save to either the @free.kindle.com or @kindle.com variations. ‘@free.kindle.com’ emails are free but can only be saved to your device when it is connected to wi-fi. ‘@kindle.com’ emails can be delivered even when you are not connected to wi-fi, but note that service fees apply.

Find out more about the Kindle Personal Document Service.

Available formats
×

Save book to Dropbox

To save content items to your account, please confirm that you agree to abide by our usage policies. If this is the first time you use this feature, you will be asked to authorise Cambridge Core to connect with your account. Find out more about saving content to Dropbox.

Available formats
×

Save book to Google Drive

To save content items to your account, please confirm that you agree to abide by our usage policies. If this is the first time you use this feature, you will be asked to authorise Cambridge Core to connect with your account. Find out more about saving content to Google Drive.

Available formats
×