Ultrasound Detection of Patellar Fracture and Evaluation of the Knee Extensor Mechanism in the Emergency Department

Traumatic injuries to the knee are common in emergency medicine. Bedside ultrasound (US) has benefits in the rapid initial detection of injuries to the patella. In addition, US can also quickly detect injuries to the entire knee extensor mechanism, including the quadriceps tendon and inferior patellar ligament, which may be difficult to diagnose with plain radiographs. While magnetic resonance imaging remains the gold standard for diagnostic evaluation of the knee extensor mechanism, this can be difficult to obtain from the emergency department. Clinicians caring for patients with orthopedic injuries of the knee would benefit from incorporating bedside musculoskeletal US into their clinical skills set.