Use of Non-Specific Knee Diagnoses and Incidence of Obscure Knee Injuries in a Large Government Health System.

Most of the cohort (99.7%) received a non-specific diagnosis at their initial visit, but only 15% did not eventually receive a more specific diagnostic code. These findings suggest that diagnoses may become more specific over time as condition-specific signs and symptoms become more evident, and diagnostic workup excludes competing diagnoses. A better understanding of diagnostic patterns and criteria for knee pain will improve the quality and interpretation from epidemiological studies.