System InteractionsDifficulty 3/5
A patient taking warfarin reports a swollen, painful knee after a minor fall. What does this most likely represent?
- AAn acute meniscal tear requiring mechanical testing and treatment
- BReactive synovitis that will settle with ice and activity modification
- CA haemarthrosis requiring medical evaluation before joint mobilisation
- DA routine effusion that responds to compression and gentle exercise
Show answer and rationale
Correct: C. Anticoagulation makes bleeding into the joint likely after trauma. Haemarthrosis needs medical evaluation; manual techniques and aggressive exercise can worsen the bleed.
- D — Assuming a benign effusion in an anticoagulated patient risks missing a haemarthrosis.
- A — Mechanical testing would apply stress to a potentially bleeding joint.
- B — Attributing swelling to synovitis without evaluation is unsafe under anticoagulation.