Pop!: Can’t Miss Musculoskeletal Ligament and Tendon Injuries in the Emergency Department

“And then I fell/twisted/landed and I heard a pop! Something must be broken!” Invariably, however, the X-ray is negative. What do you do from there? Give them an NSAID and tell them to follow-up with orthopedics? In this lecture, we’ll review the musculoskeletal “pops” that you can’t miss in the emergency department – the “pops” that need orthopedic follow-up. We’ll discuss the one, simple, physical exam maneuver to do on every patient with a knee complaint. We’ll review how to use ultrasound so you don’t miss major tendon ruptures. Children also suffer from pops, and we’ll review pediatric-specific tendon injuries, including avulsion fractures. Leave this session equipped to confidently diagnose these injuries, reduce the risk of missed diagnoses, and improve patient outcomes.