How are adolescent knee injuries diagnosed?

How are adolescent knee injuries diagnosed?

In most cases, a good history and physical exam by an adolescent sports medicine expert will provide an accurate diagnosis.

The physician can make the diagnosis by taking the patient's medical history, including any previous injuries, as well as a family history of similar injury, and by performing a physical exam. The adolescent's age, gender, and level of participation in sports are also important.

The physician will want to know how the injury occurred (if there was a "pop," swelling, if the knee locked or gave way), and other signs or symptoms.

While special tests can be helpful, in certain circumstances an accurate diagnosis can be made 90 percent of the time by taking a good history and performing a systematic exam of the knee.