Diagnosis

Your physician will take your medical history and perform a physical exam, which will aid in making the proper diagnosis. During the exam your physician may also perform a variety of tests to determine if the knee is unstable.

Your physician may take an X-ray to detect signs of arthritis and to see if your kneecap is sitting in the patello-femoral groove. An MRI, which shows ligaments and other soft tissues in the body, is needed for a more complete diagnosis of your injury and can detect cartilage breakdown.