A client arrives to the emergent care clinic describing pain, tenderness, and swelling of the right knee and an inability to bear weight on the leg. The nurse obtains a history from the client that a popping sound was suddenly heard in the right knee while playing tennis. Based on the history and assessment, which injury should the nurse expect has occurred?

A. Rotator cuff tear: A rotator cuff tear involves the shoulder, not the knee. Symptoms typically include shoulder pain, weakness with overhead activities, and limited range of motion. Given that the client’s injury occurred in the knee with a popping sound during tennis, a shoulder injury would not be consistent with the presenting history and physical findings. B. Fracture of the patella: Patellar fractures usually result from direct trauma to the knee, such as a fall or a blunt blow. Clients often present with localized pain, swelling, and sometimes visible deformity or inability to extend the knee. In this case, the mechanism described—twisting or pivoting while playing tennis—makes a patellar fracture less likely. C. Tendonitis: Tendonitis is characterized by gradual onset of pain, tenderness, and swelling due to overuse or repetitive strain. It rarely causes an acute popping sound or immediate inability to bear weight. The sudden onset described in the scenario does not fit the typical presentation of tendonitis. D. Ligament sprain: A ligament sprain, particularly an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury, commonly occurs with sudden twisting, pivoting, or hyperextension of the knee during sports like tennis. A popping sound, acute swelling, pain, and inability to bear weight are classic signs of a significant ligament sprain or tear. This mechanism and presentation align with the client’s history and assessment findings.