Case 2

You are the clinical clerk working in the Emergency Department during the Friday afternoon shift. Mrs. McEwan is a 77-year old woman who presents with pain in her distal femur and medial knee. She came by ambulance as she was unable to cope alone at home. The pain began a week ago following a minor fall (she slipped on a loose rug) in her home. She has had difficulty ambulating ever since then. The resident that you are working with is busy assessing a patient in septic shock. Based on the triage nurse's note, he has ordered the x-ray pictured below and asked you to perform a full assessment of the patient.

Image credit: M. Harrison

 

1. What anatomic structure(s) may be the source of Mrs. McEwan's pain?
2. What features of the physical exam will help you make a diagnosis?
3. What imaging would be helpful and what would you expect to see?

 

return to top | previous page | next page