CASE STUDY #9 – GETTING CORRECT DIAGNOSIS

This patient’s primary complaint was chronic right knee pain. She had seen her doctor and was referred for an orthopedic consult. A physical examination was performed along with x-rays. The orthopedist diagnosed her condition as osteoarthritis and recommended pain management as needed. Her thermogram shows a very focal area of hyperthermia (heat) directly over the medial aspect of her right knee. This area of inflammation is common with medial meniscus and/or medial collateral ligament damage. With this new information in-hand an MRI was ordered. The MRI confirmed the diagnosis as a torn medial meniscus.