Differentials
Biceps femoris tendinopathy
SIGNS / SYMPTOMS
Pain over the biceps femoris.
Pain with resisted knee flexion.
INVESTIGATIONS
Clinical differentiation usually suffices.
Degenerative joint disease
SIGNS / SYMPTOMS
Presents with joint pain and stiffness that is typically worse with activity.
INVESTIGATIONS
X-ray shows new bone formation (osteophytes), joint space narrowing, and subchondral sclerosis and cysts.
Lateral collateral ligament (LCL) sprain
SIGNS / SYMPTOMS
Pain over the LCL.
INVESTIGATIONS
Pain provocation with various stress tests. Clinical differentiation usually suffices.
Lateral meniscal tear
SIGNS / SYMPTOMS
Joint line tenderness.
INVESTIGATIONS
Positive McMurray's test.
MRI shows signal changes within meniscus on T1 and T2 images; sagittal views: anterior and posterior meniscal tears; coronal view: far medial and far lateral meniscal tears.
Myofascial pain
SIGNS / SYMPTOMS
Pain in the muscle belly.
Referred pain with palpation of trigger point.
INVESTIGATIONS
Clinical differentiation usually suffices.
Patellofemoral stress syndrome
SIGNS / SYMPTOMS
Anterior knee pain.
Tenderness in the lateral patellar set.
INVESTIGATIONS
Positive patellar compression test. Clinical differentiation usually suffices.
Popliteal tendinopathy
SIGNS / SYMPTOMS
Tenderness of the popliteal tendon.
INVESTIGATIONS
Positive Figure-4 and Garrick's test. Clinical differentiation usually suffices.
Stress fracture
SIGNS / SYMPTOMS
Pain with palpation over the affected bony region.
INVESTIGATIONS
MRI: demonstrates fracture.
Bone scan: evidence of uptake correlating with the area of pain.
Superior tibiofibular joint sprain
SIGNS / SYMPTOMS
Tenderness of the tibiofibular joint.
INVESTIGATIONS
Instability testing of the tibiofibular joint.
Clinical differentiation usually suffices.
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