Acute knee injuries - On-the-field and sideline evaluation

An athlete who has an acute knee injury should be assessed rapidly on the f ield and then more thoroughly on the sideline or in the training room. On-t he-field assessment includes questions about the mechanism of injury and an y similar previous injuries, a visual check for knee deformities and skin i njuries, a neurovascular exam, and, ideally tests for flexion and hyperexte nsion. On the sideline or in the training room, standard physical tests are likely to reveal any significant injuries. These include the patellar appr ehension, Lachman, posterior sag, quadriceps active, posterior drawer, post erolateral drawer, valgus and varus stress, pivot-shift, and dial tests.