Emergency Cases Northwest Group

018 Bending the Knee

Situation

Patient had a knee injury. X-ray showed lipohaemarthrosis which confirmed a fracture.

Background

A 72 year old lady fell directly onto her flexed knee. Tender medially, now NWB. X-ray knee seemed to show a fracture of medial femoral condyle. X-ray also showed lipohaemarthrosis; confirming the fracture.

Assessment

During the fracture fat and blood leaked into the joint from bone marrow causing a fat-blood interface. Images from wikiradiography

Recommendation

Look out for this soft tissue sign: if you see it there is a fracture present, even if you cant see the fracture itself.



PLEASE DO NOT INCLUDE ANY PATIENT IDENTIFIABLE DATA OR GEO-LOCATION DATA IN THE SUBMISSION OR IN ANY ATTACHED IMAGES

Emergency Cases Northwest Group