Differential Diagnosis for Knee Injury with Delayed Swelling and Pain
- Single most likely diagnosis
- Meniscal tear: This is a common knee injury that can cause delayed swelling and pain, especially if the tear is not immediately apparent. The meniscus is a cartilage structure in the knee that can be damaged by twisting or bending, leading to pain and swelling that may not develop until hours after the injury.
- Other Likely diagnoses
- Ligament sprain: A sprain of the medial or lateral collateral ligament can cause delayed swelling and pain, especially if the sprain is not severe enough to cause immediate symptoms.
- Osteochondral defect: An osteochondral defect is a condition where a piece of cartilage and bone in the knee joint becomes damaged, leading to pain and swelling that may be delayed.
- Patellar tendinopathy: Inflammation of the patellar tendon can cause pain and swelling in the knee, especially after activity, and may not be immediately apparent after the injury.
- Do Not Miss diagnoses
- Septic arthritis: This is a serious infection of the knee joint that can cause delayed swelling and pain, and requires prompt medical attention to prevent serious complications.
- Fracture: A fracture of the knee, such as a tibial plateau fracture, can cause delayed swelling and pain, and requires prompt medical attention to prevent further injury.
- Vascular injury: An injury to the blood vessels in the knee, such as a popliteal artery injury, can cause delayed swelling and pain, and requires prompt medical attention to prevent serious complications.
- Rare diagnoses
- Pigmented villonodular synovitis (PVNS): This is a rare condition where the synovial tissue in the knee joint becomes inflamed, leading to pain and swelling that may be delayed.
- Synovial chondromatosis: This is a rare condition where cartilage grows in the synovial tissue of the knee joint, leading to pain and swelling that may be delayed.
- Osteonecrosis: This is a rare condition where the bone in the knee joint dies due to lack of blood supply, leading to pain and swelling that may be delayed.