Here the author demonstrates how to examine the knee joint during an OSCE exam. Good luck!

1. OSCE: How to examine the knee
Dr A Barai
MBBS, MRCS, MSc (Critical care)
Registrar, Emergency Medicine

2. Introduce yourself
“Hello, I am Dr Barai. I am the
Registrar in the Emergency
Department. I would like to
examine your knees if that is
alright with you”

3. Ask about pain
“Do you have any pain
anywhere? Do you like to
have some painkillers
before I examine you?”

4. Take permission
“During the examination I would like
you to expose your legs upto the
groin if that is alright with you.
During the examination I may have
to touch your knees and do some
manoeuvres if that is alright with
you? May I proceed please?”

5. Hand washing
Tell the patient and the examiner that before
you examine the patient you would like to
wash your hands

6. Look
• Ask the patient to stand up on the floor.
• Look from front, side and behind
• Comment on:
- Skin condition: bruises, laceration
- Scar mark
- Muscle wasting
- Deformity
- Discharging sinus
- Asymmetry

7. Gait
• Ask the patient to walk a few steps if they
are happy to do that.
• Look for antalgic gait

8. Feel
• Ask the patient to lie on the couch
• Feel for temperature
• Feel quads
• Bulge test
• Patellar tap test
• Bony tenderness over patella, medial and
lateral joint lines

9. Move
• Active flexion and extension
• Passive flexion and extension
• Comment on the range of movement

10. Special tests
• Lachman test
• Varus and valgus test
• McMurray’s test

11. Conclude
• Thank the patient.
• Offer help in dressing him up.

12. To the examiner
I would like to examine the full
neurovascular status of the lower limb
and joint above eg the hip joint and
joint below eg ankle.
I would like to give him analgesia,
crutches and would also like to have a
xray of the knee to see if there is any
bony injury

13. Finish
Thank both the examiner and the patient
before leaving.

14. Answer sheet

15. Tips to pass this OSCE station
• Practise
• Practise
• Practise

16. Any comments or suggestions?
Please let me know:
drbarai@gmail.com