Knee Pain, Swelling, and Instability

Michael A. Shea, MD
Gregory W. Coppola, DO

THE PHYSICIAN AND SPORTSMEDICINE - VOL 31 - NO. 9 - SEPTEMBER 2003

A 20-year-old man who was playing recreational football caught a pass and turned to his left with his left foot planted, just as he was tackled from the right side. He heard a popping sound and felt immediate pain in his left knee. The patient developed swelling within 2 hours and was unable to walk because of pain, instability, and stiffness in his left knee. He reported to the emergency department, where routine x-rays were obtained (figure 1).

What is your diagnosis? What studies could offer additional diagnostic information about this injury?

Answers

Dr Shea is a primary care sports medicine physician in the department of orthopedics at Kaiser Permanente in Sacramento, California. Dr Coppola is lead provider and a faculty member of the sports medicine fellowship program at Saint Vincent Sports Medicine Center in Erie, Pennsylvania, and a clinical professor at Michigan State University College of Osteopathic Medicine in East Lansing, Michigan. Address correspondence to Michael A. Shea, MD, via e-mail at michael.a.shea@kp.org.

Disclosure information: Drs Shea and Coppola disclose no significant relationship with any manufacturer of any commercial product mentioned in this article. No drug is mentioned in this article for an unlabeled use.