Knee collapse Assessment Questionnaire

Why: to determine if acute or chronic.

Why: True knee collapse is a failure of the knee to bear weight with collapse. "Giving way" of the knee suggests a mechanical disorder (such as a torn ligament) although it can result from muscle weakness. When giving way of the knee occurs particularly on the stairs, the patellofemoral joint is suspect. Instability sufficient for the person to fall suggests patellar dislocation.

Why: e.g. did you land awkwardly after a leap in the air?; did your knee get a direct blow?; did your leg twist during the injury?; did you hear a "pop" or "snap"?

Why: e.g. previous knee surgery.

Why: A locked knee may cause knee collapse. True knee locking is the sudden inability to extend the knee fully but ability to flex fully. It usually occurs in the range of 10 -45 degrees, with average of 30 degrees. Causes of true knee locking include torn meniscus (bucket handle tears), loose body (bony fragment from osteochondritis dissecans), torn anterior cruciate ligament (remnant), avulsed anterior tibial spine, dislocated patella and osteochondromatosis.

Why: suggests subluxing patella, loose bodies, torn meniscus, torn anterior cruciate ligament, avulsed anterior tibial spine, dislocated patella.

Why: e.g. Often caused when there is history of injury with twisting movement with the foot firmly fixed on the ground. Present with pain over the joint line, locking of the knee, swelling of the knee and pain worse with activity.

Why: e.g. onset of pain after a sporting injury such as landing from a jump or a forced rotational strain of the knee when another player falls across the knee. Results in immediate swelling of the knee due to accumulation of blood in the knee joint. Problems after the injury of knee pain, knee locking and knee "giving way".

Why: e.g. person is usually 15-20 years of age and presents with intermittent ache or swelling of the knee. Later, there are attacks of giving way, and locking may occur. It results when a small bony-cartilage fragment separates from the femur bone within the knee joint and then appears as a loose body in the joint.

Why: e.g. occurs unexpectedly when the quadriceps muscle is contracted with the knee in flexion. There is acute pain and the person can not straighten the knee; sometimes the knee collapses and then person falls to the ground. Girls are more commonly affected than boys and the condition is often bilateral. Instability of the knee sufficient for the person to fall suggests patellar dislocation.

Why: e.g. usually a teenage girl, complains of diffuse pain at the front of the knee, especially when going up or down stairs. It may cause occasional locking or knee collapse.