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Preparing for your appointment
By Mayo Clinic staffIf your knee injury is severe, you may need to seek emergency medical care. In some cases, however, you may initially consult your family physician. He or she may refer you to a doctor who specializes in knee injuries or sports medicine.
What you can do
You may want to write a list that includes:
- Detailed descriptions of your symptoms
- Information about medical problems you've had in the past
- Information about the medical problems of your parents or siblings
- All the medications and dietary supplements you take
- Questions you want to ask the doctor
What to expect from your doctor
- Medical history. Your doctor will ask about the accident or injury, the problems you're having with your knee, how long you've had symptoms, and whether you have a history of knee injuries.
- Physical examination of the knee. Your doctor may press on your knee to feel for injury, looseness or fluid in the joint from bleeding. He or she may move your knee, leg or foot in different directions and ask you to stand and walk to see if your knee stays in proper position. Your doctor will compare your injured leg with the healthy one to look for any sagging or abnormal movement in the knee or shinbone.
- Posterior drawer test. In this test, you lie on your back with your knee bent. Your doctor gently moves your lower leg backward at the knee. If the leg moves back excessively, your posterior cruciate ligament may be torn.
- Curtis C, et al. Posterior cruciate ligament sprain. In: Frontera WR, et al. Essentials of physical medicine and rehabilitation. 2nd ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Saunders Elsevier; 2008. http://www.mdconsult.com/das/book/body/116066654-3/790081040/1678/70.html#4-u1.0-B978-1-4160-4007-1..50069-9_1107. Accessed Jan. 9, 2009.
- Browner BD, et al. Posterior cruciate ligament injury. In: Browner BD, et al. Skeletal Trauma: Basic Science, Management and Reconstruction. 3rd ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Saunders Elsevier; 2003. http://www.mdconsult.com/das/book/body/116066654-3/790081040/1217/502.html#4-u1.0-B0-7216-9175-7..50060-3--cesec26_2762. Accessed Jan. 9, 2009.
- Griffin RL, et al. Posterior cruciate ligament injuries in the adult: Mechanism of injury. In: DeLee JC, et al. DeLee and Drez's Orthopaedic Sports Medicine. 2nd ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Saunders Elsevier; 2003.
