How urgent is your knee problem?

Relatively trivial

• graze
• collateral ligament sprain

Moderately problematic

• meniscal ('cartilages') tear
• incomplete collateral ligament tear
• Baker's cyst
• symptomatic maltracking
• plica with 'catching'
• haemarthrosis (bleed within knee joint)

Not so serious - but surgery urgent

• locked knee
• tear of quadriceps muscle

Moderately serious - but not urgent. Seek specialist advice.

• incomplete cruciate ligament tear
• complete collateral ligament tear
• patellar subluxation

Serious - but surgery not urgent. Expect major rehab issues. Important to get the best surgeon you can when you are referred for surgery.

• fractures (bone breaks) - patella, tibial plateau - undisplaced
• complete cruciate ligament tear
• cruciate ligament avulsion
• patellar dislocation

Serious - surgery urgent. Expect later problems.

• tibial plateau fracture (break) if the fragments are displaced
• fractured patella if the fragments are displaced
• penetrating injuries of knee
• total dislocation of the knee