Pathophysiology
Learning Objectives
[ "Distinguish structural, inflammatory, and referred causes of knee pain using history and targeted physical exam", "Apply the Ottawa Knee Rules to determine imaging necessity", "Identify the red flags that mandate joint aspiration or emergency referral", "Select appropriate first-line management for OA, gout, and patellofemoral pain" ] Connect Diagnosing and Managing Knee Pain in to bedside cues you will reassess first: vitals trends, work of breathing, perfusion, mentation, and pain or ischemic equivalents when relevant. Boards reward recognizing when subtle instability outweighs reassurance, then selecting nursing actions that protect airway, circulation, and neurologic status before routine tasks.
