Patellar Bulge Test
Overview
- The patellar bulge test is used to assess for an effusion of the knee joint, by attempting to move the fluid to one side of the knee.
How to Perform
- Extend the knee joint. Milk the fluid from the lateral side of the knee, to the suprapatellar pouch, into the medial side of the knee. Gently press onto the fluid-filled medial side of the knee.
Abnormal If
- The fullness migrates to the lateral side of the knee when the medial side is pressed.
Causes of Knee Effusion
- Trauma - ligament tear, menisceal tear, intra-articular fracture, patellar dislocation
- Arthritis - osteoarthritis, psoriatic arthritis, reactive arthritis, IBD-related arthritis, gout, pseudogout
- Infection - septic arthritis, tuberculosis, Lyme disease, syphilis
- Blood - haemarthrosis
- Malignancy - osteosarcoma
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------