The diagnosis and initial management of the acutely injured knee with particular reference to sport injuries.

A series of 115 consecutive cases of acutely injured knee, occurring mainly as a result of rugby-football, is analysed. It is suggested that the successful management of an acute knee injury often depends on the doctor of first contact. A scheme of diagnosis and early management is outlined. Acute subluxation of the patella is shown to be a definite entity in the differential diagnosis of an acute knee injury, and a classification for the purposes of the doctor of first contact is proposed.