Diagnostic Tests for Knee pain

Diagnostic Test list for Knee pain:

The list of diagnostic tests mentioned in various sources as used in the diagnosis of Knee pain includes:

• Physical examination
  • Inspect the knee with the person walking, standing and lying
  • A systematic examination of the affected knee looking for signs of inflammation, deformity, swelling, disordered stability and reduced range of motion - e.g. tenderness and warmth indicates inflammation; redness of the skin over the joint indicates gout, pseudogout, rheumatic fever or septic arthritis.
  • Full physical examination looking for signs of systemic disease that can predispose or present with joint pain - e.g. rash and pitted nails of psoriasis; Raynaud's phenomenon of rheumatoid arthritis; doughnut-shaped rash of Lyme disease; butterfly rash of systemic lupus erythematosus; abdominal tenderness of ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease; heart murmur of rheumatic fever or subacute bacterial endocarditis.
• Blood tests
  • Full blood count, ESR and CRP
  • Renal function tests and Electrolytes
  • ASO titre, if suspect rheumatic fever
  • Arthritis screen depending on suspicion including Rheumatoid factor, ANA and ENA antibodies, HLA-B27
  • Uric acid (marker of gout)
  • Coagulation profile
  • Blood cultures, if fever
  • Lyme disease serology
  • Iron studies, if suspect hemochromatosis
• Urine tests
  • Urinalysis for blood, sugar and protein
  • 24 hour urinary uric acid, if suspect gout
• Radiological examination
  • X-Ray of knee may show a fracture, osteoarthritis changes and punched out lesion of gout and pseudogout
  • MRI may be indicated to diagnose torn menisci or other conditions
  • Bone survey at times may be indicated
• Mantoux test - if suspect tuberculosis.
• Synovial fluid analysis and culture - should be done if there is sufficient joint fluid.
• Urethral discharge smear and culture, if urethral discharge is present
• Arthroscopic examination by an Orthopedic specialist may be necessary

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