Comprehensive Osteopathic Medical Licensing Examination (COMLEX USA) Practice

What is the significance of joint line tenderness in knee injuries?

1. Indicates a muscle strain

2. Often suggests a meniscus tear

3. Points to ACL integrity

4. Indicates a sprain of ligaments

The correct answer is: Often suggests a meniscus tear

Joint line tenderness is clinically significant in the context of knee injuries, particularly because it is highly suggestive of a meniscus tear. The menisci are C-shaped cartilaginous structures located between the femur and tibia, and they play a crucial role in load distribution, shock absorption, and the stabilization of the knee joint. When there is a tear in the meniscus, typically due to twisting injuries or degeneration, patients commonly present with tenderness along the joint line, which refers to the area on either side of the knee joint where the femur and tibia meet. In such cases, the palpation of the joint line will elicit pain, which is an indicator of underlying meniscal pathology. The presence of joint line tenderness, along with other symptoms such as swelling, locking, or feeling of instability in the knee, strengthens the clinical suspicion of a meniscus injury. Other choices do not align as well with joint line tenderness. Muscle strains generally produce tenderness in muscle bellies and are often associated with specific movements rather than tenderness localized to the joint itself. While tenderness related to the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) might contribute to knee instability, it is not typically localized to the joint line, but rather to the anterior aspect of