Acute knee pain

Infection suspected or recent joint surgery

Refer to Emergency department or contact on-call orthopaedic registrar

Inflammatory disease suspected

Manage in Primary Care or refer to Rheumatology

Refer to ED:

• Significant Injury with rapid swelling, instability and unable to complete function
• Suspected Fracture/Extensor Mechanism Failure
• True Locked Knee

Refer direct for MRI:

• >6 weeks with  uninterrupted symptoms and
• positive meniscal provocation tests or ligament insufficiency +- joint line tenderness and
• under 50

Knee injury with ability to carry out ADLs

• Signpost to NHS Inform for gentle exercise
• Encourage functional activity
• Analgesia as required
• Refer to MSK services if progress not as expected