Cost and time are important to anyone, and knowing if your knee problem is urgent or not is helpful.
First published in 2013, and reviewed August 2023 by Dr Sheila Strover (Clinical Editor)
This list gives an idea of the relative urgency of different knee problems:
Relatively trivial
- graze
- collateral ligament sprain
Moderately problematic
- meniscal ('cartilages') tear
- incomplete collateral ligament tear
- Baker's cyst
- symptomatic maltracking
- plica with 'catching'
- haemarthrosis (bleed within knee joint)
Not so serious - but surgery urgent
- locked knee
- tear of quadriceps muscle
Moderately serious - but not urgent. Seek specialist advice.
- incomplete cruciate ligament tear
- complete collateral ligament tear
- patellar subluxation
Serious - but surgery not urgent. Expect major rehab issues. Important to get the best surgeon you can when you are referred for surgery.
- fractures (bone breaks) - patella, tibial plateau - undisplaced
- complete cruciate ligament tear
- cruciate ligament avulsion
- patellar dislocation
Serious - surgery urgent. Expect later problems.
- tibial plateau fracture (break) if the fragments are displaced
- fractured patella if the fragments are displaced
- penetrating injuries of knee
- total dislocation of the knee