Differential Diagnosis for Medial Knee Pain
- Single Most Likely Diagnosis
- Medial meniscus tear: This is a common cause of medial knee pain, especially in individuals who participate in sports or activities that involve twisting or bending of the knee. The meniscus is a cartilage structure that can be damaged due to acute injury or chronic wear and tear.
- Other Likely Diagnoses
- Medial collateral ligament (MCL) sprain: The MCL is a ligament that connects the femur to the tibia and provides stability to the medial aspect of the knee. A sprain can occur due to a valgus force (a force that pushes the knee inward) and can cause pain and instability.
- Pes anserine bursitis: This is an inflammatory condition that affects the bursa located on the medial aspect of the knee, where the tendons of the sartorius, gracilis, and semitendinosus muscles attach. It can cause pain and swelling in the medial knee.
- Osteoarthritis: This is a degenerative joint disease that can cause pain and stiffness in the knee, especially in older adults. Medial knee pain can be a symptom of osteoarthritis, particularly if the disease is more advanced.
- Do Not Miss Diagnoses
- Septic arthritis: This is a serious infection of the joint that requires prompt medical attention. It can cause severe pain, swelling, and redness in the affected knee, and can lead to serious complications if left untreated.
- Osteonecrosis: This is a condition in which the bone tissue dies due to a lack of blood supply. It can cause severe pain and can lead to collapse of the bone, which can be devastating if not treated promptly.
- Tumor: Although rare, a tumor can cause medial knee pain and should not be missed. A thorough evaluation, including imaging studies, is necessary to rule out this possibility.
- Rare Diagnoses
- Pellegrini-Stieda syndrome: This is a rare condition in which a calcification forms in the MCL, causing pain and stiffness in the medial knee.
- Medial knee instability due to a posterior oblique ligament injury: This is a rare injury that can cause medial knee instability and pain.
- Infection of the medial knee bursae: This is a rare condition that can cause pain, swelling, and redness in the medial knee, and requires prompt medical attention.