Evaluating acute knee injuries.

The diagnosis of acute knee injuries should be as precise as possible. A wait-and-see attitude is condemned. A complete diagnosis cannot always be made on the basis of history, physical examination and x-rays. Additional aids, such as stress films, joint aspiration, arthrography, examination under anesthesia and arthroscopy, increase diagnostic accuracy to nearly 100 percent. Only then can the physician properly manage the patient so that long-term disability is minimized.