Knee Joint Effusion
Oct 18, 2024How much fluid in the knee is normal and when do you call an effusion?
Knee flexion plays a big role in suprapatellar pouch effusion size. A slight flex of the knee is ideal with fluid still visible deep to the quadriceps tendon. If in this setting, we see fluid bulging out medial and lateral around the quadriceps tendon in transverse plane we would consider this an effusion.
As you flex the knee, the quadriceps will tighten further over the recess and push more fluid medial and lateral to the tendon.
It's subjective, a small amount of physiological fluid is normal, but when the joint is distended or bulges medially and/or laterally, then we would call this an effusion.
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