Dancing patella

A dancing patella is a finding in orthopedics that is considered to be evidence of a knee joint effusion .

Action

In order to find clues to the cause of a swelling of the knee joint or to detect an unnoticed effusion of fluid in the knee joint, the examiner exerts pressure from above (ventrally) on the bursa above the kneecap ( Latin: suprapatellar recess ) when the leg is extended. To do this, the examiner's whole hand is used to smear the area above the patella towards the kneecap (from cranial to caudal). This ensures that stored fluid in the bursa is emptied into the joint capsule ( Latin capsula articularis ). This is particularly relevant with smaller effusions (less than 100 ml), as the bursa there can absorb large amounts of liquid and an effusion often goes unnoticed.

The test is considered positive if the kneecap ( lat. Patella ) can be pressed downwards by pressure from above (ventral) while maintaining pressure on the bursa . A dancing patella is considered to be evidence of a knee joint effusion.

swell

• Gerhard Aumüller et al .: Dual Series Anatomy, 2nd edition. Georg Thieme Verlag, Stuttgart 2010. ISBN 9783131528629

Individual evidence

1. ↑ ^{a b c} Gerhard Aumüller et al .: Duale Series Anatomie, 2nd edition. Georg Thieme Verlag, Stuttgart 2010. ISBN 9783131528629 , p. 330

This article is about a health issue. It is not used for self-diagnosis and does not replace a diagnosis by a doctor. Please note the information on health issues !