Diagnosis of acute medial meniscal injury
In acute medial meniscal tear an effusion may occur but its absence does not exclude meniscal injury. Medial joint-line tenderness is a frequent finding and joint locking may be found. Joint locking is classically described as a loss of the terminal 10 degrees of extension, but sometimes occurs at other points in the range of motion.
There is no consensus on how to diagnose an acute medial meniscal tear based on specific clinical tests. A reasonable approach is, in association with the clinical history of the injury, to assess for medial joint-line tenderness and to perform the McMurray1 and Thessaly tests2.
1 The McMurray test is a passive movement test of the knee performed to identify meniscal injury in the knee. See this instructional video.Return
2 The Thessaly test is an active movement test of the knee performed to identify meniscal injury in the knee. See this instructional video.Return