A Rare Case of Meniscal Hematoma with Hemarthrosis of the Knee

Abstract

Meniscal hematoma is very rare; we identified only two case reports in the English-language literature1,2. Recurrent hemarthrosis of the knee, or spontaneous hemarthrosis, is also a relatively rare condition3,4. We do not believe that a case of meniscal hematoma concurrent with hemarthrosis of the knee has been previously reported. We present a case of meniscal hematoma involving the lateral meniscus concurrent with spontaneous knee hemarthrosis. The patient was informed that data concerning the case would be submitted for publication, and she gave her consent. A fifty-six-year-old woman was referred to our department because of recurrent hemarthrosis of the knee and exacerbation of knee pain. The patient had experienced a catching sensation in the left knee joint since the age of approximately thirty years, but she did not seek medical advice because she had no pain. Approximately one month before presenting to our department, she visited a physician because of swelling and pain in the left knee without apparent cause, which led to difficulty in walking. Bloody joint fluid was aspirated, but subsequently the hemarthrosis and knee pain recurred. The patient had a history of cervical spinal cord injury due to a traffic accident when she was thirty-nine years old, which had resulted in quadriparesis. She used a T-shaped stick while walking. At presentation, in addition to difficulty with walking, she had marked swelling and pain in the left knee. Instability of the knee was not demonstrated, but a large effusion was present. Left knee motion was –20° of extension and 60° of flexion (unaffected knee: –5° of extension and 125° of flexion). She had tenderness along the lateral joint line. Evaluation of the meniscus with the McMurray test and Apley test was difficult because of pain and a limited range of motion. …