medial approach - aspiration or injection of the knee joint
Last edited 05/2019
Medial approach to injection of the knee joint
Based on contributions from Dr Elspeth Wise and Dr Alan Walker on behalf of the Primary Care Rheumatology and Musculoskeletal Medicine Society
- the patient should be resting on a couch with their knee extended
- the space between the patella and the femoro-tibial articulation should
be palpated
- the needle is inserted at the mid point of the medial border of the patella
and is directed laterally and slightly posteriorly
- it may be helpful to apply pressure to the lateral aspect of the patella whilst injecting so as to tilt the patella laterally and open up the medial space
Medial approach to injection of the knee joint - surface anatomy
Medial approach to injection of the knee joint - through vastus medialis (VM) labelled
Medial approach to injection of the knee joint - with vastus medialis removed for explanatory purposes to show injection point
Key to acronyms:
Reference: