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Patella examination

Last reviewed dd mmm yyyy. Last edited dd mmm yyyy

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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

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The content herein is provided for informational purposes and does not replace the need to apply professional clinical judgement when diagnosing or treating any medical condition. A licensed medical practitioner should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions.

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