patella examination
Last reviewed 01/2018
The examination of the patella involves:
- placing the knees flexed over the edge of the couch, which may show a torsional deformity of the femur and tibia, or a laterally placed patella
- determining whether the patella is high-lying - patella alta - which predisposes to lateral dislocation
- feeling the anterior surface: - a tender, bi-partate ridge may be present - upper and lower pole tenderness occurs in Sinding Larsen-Johannson disease and with "jumper's knee"
- displacing the patella medially and laterally to feel its articular surface
- moving the patella up, down, laterally and into the knee joint - reduced mobility is characteristic of retro-patella arthritis
- the patella apprehension test