Neutral fat globules in traumatized knees.

Synovial fluid was analyzed for neutral fat globules using a modified Gurd test in 146 patients with various knee disorders. The presence of liquid neutral fat without an intra-articular fracture is an ominous sign of a significant soft tissue injury. Mechanically damaged knees contain neutral fat globules that are not found in normal or osteoarthritic knees. While liquid neutral fat may suggest a surgically amendable ligamentous and/or meniscal injury, 10% of the injured knees containing fat had an intra-articular fracture.