Detecting Hydrops of the Knee

Hydrops of the knee is detected by applying alternating slight pressure with the fingers above and besides the patella, moving the fluid from the superior to the lateral synovial fluid recesses. It is easy to feel the fluid moving from the area of the joint line to above the patella. Compare the finding with the other knee. This test is more sensitive than balloting the patella. This 32-year-old woman had rheumatoid arthritis. Detecting slight hydrops of the knee with the bulge sign test is presented in another video Detecting a Slight Hydrops of the Knee.

Detecting Hydrops of the Knee