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buckling or giving way of the knee

Etiology: 1) buckling a) anterior cruciate ligament tear (ACL tear) b) meniscal tear c) risk factors [2] - obesity - deconditioning - quadriceps weakness 2) pseudobuckling (feeling of buckling without knee giving way) - anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) - patellofemoral pain syndrome - arthritis Epidemiology: - 12% of population Clinical manifestations: - most frequently occurs in association with - walking, stair climbing, twisting or turning - 78% report multiple episodes - 13% report a fall Radiology: - radiograph of knee(s) - most cases not associated with knee osteoarthritis - MRI for anterior cruciate ligament or meniscal tear Management: - physical therapy - see specific etiology

Related

anterior cruciate ligament; ligamentum cruciatum anterius (ACL) knee pain lateral meniscus (meniscus lateralis) medial meniscus (meniscus medialis, faliciform cartilage) osteoarthritis (OA) patellofemoral pain syndrome; chondromalacia patella (PFPS)

General

sign/symptom

References

  1. Medical Knowledge Self Assessment Program (MKSAP) 11, American College of Physicians, Philadelphia 1998
  2. Felson DT et al, Knee buckling: prevalence, risk factors, and associated limitations in function. Ann Intern Med 2007, 147:534 PMID: 17938391